UFO EXPRESS

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO EXPRESS
Issue: XII, No. 127
Date: February 1996
Publisher: UFO-EXPRESS (Italy)
Language: Italian (with English articles)

This issue of UFO EXPRESS delves into various aspects of the UFO phenomenon, featuring a mix of investigative journalism, witness accounts, and theoretical discussions. The magazine highlights a controversial surgery performed by a California surgeon on alleged alien abductees, explores the controversial use of 'psychic spies' by intelligence agencies, and reports on UFO sightings and incidents from around the world.

Surgeon Operates on Alleged Alien Abductees

The lead story, "Surgeon, a UFO buff, operated and found..." by Steve Chawkins, details a remarkable case where a California surgeon, fearing repercussions, extracted small, unusual foreign objects from two patients who claimed alien abduction. The objects, encased in a tough, dark membrane, were highly magnetic and exhibited a green glow under ultraviolet light. Pathologists found no evidence of inflammation or foreign body reaction in the surrounding tissue, adding to the mystery. The objects were sent to Houston for further analysis. The surgeon, active in UFO groups for five years, met the patients through a Houston UFO researcher.

Military and Government Involvement in UFO Phenomena

Psychic Spies and the CIA: An article titled "Psychic spies have home at CIA" by Jack Anderson, discusses the Pentagon's continued use of a classified team of 'psychic spies' employing extrasensory perception for intelligence gathering. Known by various names like 'Project Grill Flame,' 'Center Lane,' and 'Sunstreak,' the program, launched in the early 1970s, aims to counter a perceived 'psychic gap' with the Soviets. The article highlights successes, such as accurately describing an airfield and locating a downed Soviet bomber, but also acknowledges failures that have drawn criticism.

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base: The base is a focal point for UFO conspiracy theorists, with Richard Hoagland, founder of Mars Mission, speculating that world leaders attending peace talks there were being shown aliens and advanced alien technology. Hoagland believes this is preparation for an 'interplanetary war.' The article also mentions 'Hangar 13,' where some believe alien bodies from the Roswell crash are stored. Skeptics like Joe Nickell dismiss these theories as 'ridiculous.'

Government Reports on Roswell: The "GOVERNO" section details two significant official reports. The General Accounting Office (GAO) released a report in July 1995 stating that the debate over what crashed at Roswell in 1947 continues, though no new documents were found. In September, the Air Force released a 1,000-page report heavily suggesting that the 'Project Mogul' spy balloon experiments caused the Roswell incident, but without offering verifiable proof. The GAO found no evidence that Project Mogul played a role in the events of July 1947.

UFO Sightings and Incidents

Korean UFO Formation: A brief film aired by a South Korean TV station showed a formation of luminous, disc-shaped objects flying in formation. The footage, shot by cameraman Lee Heehong, was initially met with reluctance by the station owner but was declared a first for South Korea.

Triangular Formation in Santa Rosa: A triangular formation, described as a crop circle, appeared on a hill in Santa Rosa, California, on the property of Dr. Ted Stashak. A witness reported a flash of light around the time of the formation, and crystals or glass-like material were found within the circles.

Other Sightings and Incidents: The issue also includes reports of a long cylindrical object sighted by the crew of Air West airline (confirmed by NORAD radar), a large number of objects sighted in central Virginia at night, and two teenagers in England witnessing bright lights and rectangular shapes. The investigation into the 1978 McGuire Air Force Base incident and the 1967 Shag Harbour incident are also mentioned.

Other Topics

Crop Circles: The trend of finding new and sophisticated crop circles continues, though the lack of solid evidence linking them to UFOs has limited research funding.

'Alien Autopsy' Film: A film shown on Fox TV network, titled 'Alien Autopsy,' is described as a mixture of fake and reality, with its origin unclear and its authenticity questionable due to the owner's refusal to allow analysis.

Fund for UFO Research: The Fund for UFO Research Inc. has continued to work with UFO organizations to support research and educational programs, with a 175-page publication planned for early 1996.

Book Review: A review of 'STORIA DI UNA PIRAMIDE' by Daniela Giordano and Jan Pajak is included, describing it as an adventure linking two continents and exploring themes of ancient artifacts and potential communication with aliens.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the intersection of UFO phenomena with government secrecy, military involvement, and alleged extraterrestrial contact. There's a clear interest in presenting evidence, however controversial, and in questioning official explanations. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, providing a platform for witnesses and researchers, while also acknowledging skeptical viewpoints. The recurring theme is the persistent mystery surrounding UFOs and the potential for advanced, non-human intelligence influencing or interacting with humanity.

This issue of UFO Express, dated Saturday, February 3, 1996, from La Stampa, focuses on unexplained phenomena, including a significant UFO sighting, research into abduction technology, and disturbing animal mutilations. The magazine features articles in Italian, with a cover headline that translates to "That pilot really saw a UFO."

"That pilot really saw a UFO" - Collision Avoided on Flight from Milan to Manchester

The lead story details an incident from January 6, 1995, where Captain Roger Wills of British Airways, flying a Boeing 737 with 60 passengers from Milan to Manchester, reported a near-collision with a mysterious object. While on final approach at 1200 meters, Wills and his co-pilot, Mark Stuart, observed a majestic, silent, wedge-shaped object with white lights and a dark stripe. The object passed so close that Stuart instinctively ducked. The object disappeared rapidly, and despite the pilot's alarm, air traffic control had no radar contact. An inquiry by the British Civil Aviation Authority concluded that there were no other aircraft in the area and no terrestrial explanation for the sighting. The report highlighted the 'courage' of the pilot and co-pilot for filing their report, suggesting they were not 'visionaries.' The article also mentions Mark Lloyd, who witnessed a similar object that evening.

UFO in Pordenone? An Expert Sends Report to the Air Force

This section reports on Antonio Chiumiento, a scientific consultant for the national ufological center and a mathematics professor, who submitted a report to the Italian Air Force. The report concerns the discovery of three circular imprints, each 10.60 meters in diameter, in fields in the province of Pordenone between September 22 and October 4, 1995. Experts suggested the imprints were caused by microwave radiation, and counterfeiting was ruled out. Chiumiento proposed that the physical and chemical alterations to the soil and grass were caused by an unidentified flying object.

"A UFO in the Clouds, Here's the Film"

This article, by Vittorio Perfetto, describes an encounter by a group of young people near Cepagatti who filmed an object they described as a "strange cloud" or "object not identified." Dario Vola, one of the witnesses, explained that the object was regular in shape and seemed "parked" in the sky. After it disappeared, reviewing the VHS tape revealed it was not a cloud but something else, possibly a UFO. Rosolino Antonini, an expert in ufology and former Marina radar operator, analyzed the footage and stated, "For me, it is not a cloud at all, but an unidentified object." He noted that the object had precise and regular contours, unlike a cloud, and that contrast analysis revealed a sharp distinction between the object and the clouds. Antonini considered other hypotheses, such as secret military aircraft, but found them unlikely. He suggested the object might be a UFO, even if the witnesses were initially reluctant to believe it. The article also lists the six young witnesses and their ages.

"The Expert: 'It's Not a Trick'"

This section continues the discussion about the Cepagatti sighting, with Rosolino Antonini elaborating on his analysis of the VHS tape. He used a mixer and zoom, performed backlight tests, and negative image analysis, concluding that the object was "not a trick." He noted that the object's contours were very clear, unlike the blurred edges of clouds. Antonini also considered the possibility of secret US military aircraft used during the Bosnian War, but ultimately leaned towards the UFO hypothesis. He mentioned that in his time in the Navy, he encountered two controversial cases that were archived as "unidentified objects."

"Anti-Abduction" Technology from the USA

Written by Salvatore Marino, this article details the research of Nick Reiter, an American researcher who developed a device to detect magnetic field variations, potentially linked to alien abductions. Reiter's work involved experiments with individuals who reported "close encounters of the fourth kind." He hypothesized that a strong magnetic field could be associated with alien abduction experiences, possibly due to an "implant" left by aliens. Reiter developed a device called MEM (Magnetic Event Marker) using simple plastic and glass parts to detect subtle magnetic disturbances. His research involved 15 MEM indicators placed with individuals who reported anomalous experiences, with seven showing multiple deflections, primarily at night, suggesting a link between these events and magnetic anomalies. The article contrasts this with control groups and discusses the limitations of current technology in detecting such phenomena.

"The Magnetic Implant Response" (MIR)

This section further explains Nick Reiter's research, focusing on the "Magnetic Implant Response" (MIR). Reiter's experiments indicated that individuals who reported anomalous experiences, particularly abductions, showed a distinct reaction to strong magnetic fields. This reaction, termed MIR, involved physical and mental symptoms. Reiter noted that individuals over sixty-one years old did not exhibit these reactions, leading him to question the natural origin of the phenomenon. He proposed two hypotheses for MIR: natural sensitivity to magnetic fields or an externally imposed condition. Reiter's research also included experiments on animals (dogs, cats, pigs, and horses) to test their reactions to magnets, finding no significant changes in their behavior.

"The MEM: Magnetic Event Marker"

This part describes the MEM device developed by Nick Reiter. It is a simple, mechanical indicator consisting of a plastic base, glass columns, and a glass bar holding a magnetic pointer. The pointer is a magnet inserted into a piece of plastic straw. Adhesive strips on the glass columns lock the pointer in place when a magnetic disturbance occurs. The MEM is designed to be sensitive to magnetic variations between 0.05 and 0.5 Gauss, a range that excludes interference from passing vehicles or aircraft. It provides an indication of a magnetic event but not its amplitude or direction. The article explains that Reiter assembled fifteen MEMs and distributed them to individuals reporting anomalous experiences, with seven showing multiple deflections, suggesting a correlation with unusual events.

"The Civilization of Aliens" - Book Review

This section reviews a book by Richard L. Thompson titled "The Civilization of Aliens." The book posits that UFOs are piloted by intelligences from other planets and presents historical and mythological evidence of alien contact dating back thousands of years. The review highlights Thompson's thesis that aliens are piloting UFOs and have been interacting with humans for millennia.

"Me and the Extraterrestrials" - Rosolino Antonini

This article profiles Rosolino Antonini, also known as Nicola, a former radar operator for the Italian Navy who now runs a shop called "Il pianeta fanta-horror" in Pescara. Antonini is an expert in ufology and has collected numerous stories about UFO sightings and extraterrestrial encounters. He believes that humanity is like an ant in a desert (the universe) and that we cannot be alone. He suggests that Hollywood films accurately depict extraterrestrials based on witness descriptions. Antonini also discusses the possibility that governments are preparing the public for the truth about aliens and that they may already be in contact with them, possibly exchanging technology. He recounts his own experiences as a radar operator, including two UFO sightings logged in the ship's diary. He expresses skepticism about the possibility of secret military aircraft being responsible for all sightings, citing the historical context of the Cold War and the transfer of information to the Americans.

"A Sadistic Killer is Killing Horses" - Animal Mutilations in Pisa

This article, by Marco Gasperetti, reports on a series of disturbing animal mutilations in Pisa, Italy. Four horses were found dead, three of them with ritualistic mutilations, including the removal of ears, pubic areas, and tongues. The owner, Ettore Pistoletti, a well-known horse trainer, believes this is not a case of revenge, as he was targeted similarly ten years prior when 26 of his racehorses were poisoned. The current incidents are being investigated as the work of a "monster" or a satanic sect. The article mentions the previous poisoning case in 1985, for which a former collaborator, his father, and a horse breeder were arrested and prosecuted.

"The Monster of Loch Ness" - Turkey's Lake Van Creature

This report details alleged sightings and filming of marine creatures in Lake Van, Turkey. A television company, Star, purchased the rights to footage of what appeared to be a pair of large, dinosaur-like animals in the lake. The creatures were described as being between 6 and 8 meters long, moving at high speed, and not appearing aggressive. The deputy governor of the region initiated a naming contest for the creatures. The article also briefly mentions other lake monsters, such as "Nessie" in Scotland, "Selma" in Norway, "Ogopogo" in Canada, and the "Tianchi Monster" in China, noting how such phenomena can boost tourism.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are unexplained aerial phenomena (UFOs), alleged alien encounters and abductions, and the investigation of mysterious events, including animal mutilations and cryptid sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting witness testimonies and scientific investigations while acknowledging the speculative nature of the subjects. The magazine encourages reader participation in verifying information and seeking further details on reported incidents. There's a clear interest in exploring the boundaries between reality and fantasy, particularly concerning extraterrestrial life and unexplained phenomena.