UFO Forum - 1977 - No 5

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO FORUM
Issue: 5
Volume: 1977/5. årgang
Date: 1977
Publisher: Norsk UFO Center
Country: Norway
Language: Norwegian

Content Summary

This issue of UFO FORUM, published by Norsk UFO Center, focuses on significant UFO events and research in 1977. The cover story, "UFO-LANDINGEN VED HØNEFOSS" (The UFO Landing at Hønefoss), details an incident reported on October 28, 1977, by two 14-year-old students near Hønefoss, Norway. The object reportedly landed, stopped, and then took off, leaving three distinct marks in the soil. The article highlights the swift response of Norsk UFO Center (NUFOC) representatives, including local field researcher Dag Heim and research section leader Tom R. Lemb, who managed to collect evidence, such as plaster casts of the landing traces, which the local police were unable to do.

The editorial, "REDAKSJONELT" (Editorial), reflects on the year 1977, noting a quiet period followed by a surge of activity, including the Hønefoss landing and a collaboration offer from UFO-Sverige. It praises the organizational structure of NUFOC for enabling a coordinated and effective response to the incident, emphasizing the importance of preparedness and the positive results achieved.

UFO-landingen ved Hønefoss

This detailed article recounts the Hønefoss landing, initiated by a report from two 14-year-old students. It describes the object's appearance and behavior, including its low altitude, stop, descent, and subsequent departure, leaving three marked spots. The article notes the media's serious coverage, including NTB and Dagbladet. It details NUFOC's immediate response, involving field researcher Dag Heim and the research section led by Tom R. Lemb, who were able to secure crucial evidence like plaster casts of the landing sites. The article also touches upon the involvement of local authorities (police, military) and the challenges in obtaining official analysis of the evidence, highlighting the bureaucratic hurdles faced by NUFOC in getting the military to analyze the findings. It mentions that similar circular traces have been found elsewhere in Norway, and that measurements of 'Phi values' at the landing site showed peculiarities consistent with other findings.

UFO-forskeren som lege (The UFO Researcher as a Healer)

Written by Ron Westrum, this article discusses John Brent Musgrave's concept of the UFO investigator as a counselor and healer. It explores cases where witnesses of 'close-encounter' events experience psychological and emotional problems. The article contrasts the approaches of two hypothetical UFO groups (Group I and Group II) in handling such cases, with Group II successfully providing therapeutic support. Westrum elaborates on how UFO encounters can trigger paranormal phenomena like poltergeists, telepathy, and clairvoyance, suggesting these might be linked to a 'psychic expansion' or mental disturbance caused by the encounter. It also references John Keel's work on these phenomena.

Flying Saucers Through 30 Years

This historical overview by Ian Ridfath marks the 30th anniversary of the original 'flying saucer' observation by Kenneth Arnold on June 24, 1947. Arnold described a formation of nine 'saucer-shaped' objects, leading to widespread media attention and the term 'flying saucers.' The article reviews the US Air Force's investigations (Project Sign, Grudge, Blue Book) and the Rand Corporation's study, all concluding that UFOs posed no threat to national security and were likely misinterpretations or hoaxes, with no evidence of extraterrestrial craft. It challenges the 'cover-up' theory, citing declassified documents and the Robertson Panel report. The article also mentions the death of Captain Thomas Mantell in 1948 while investigating a UFO, with the official explanation being oxygen deficiency, and discusses the role of the CIA in monitoring Skyhook programs.

It critically examines classic UFO cases, such as the Barney and Betty Hill abduction, which Robert Sheaffer reportedly debunked by suggesting it was a misinterpretation of Venus. The article also references Philip Klass's work, which has explained many UFO sightings as misidentifications or hoaxes, citing the Socorro landing as an example of a publicity stunt. The author questions the sheer volume of UFO reports, arguing that if extraterrestrial civilizations were common, visits would be far less frequent than reported. It also touches upon the theory of interdimensional visitors, noting the lack of concrete evidence.

Organizations and Information

Organisasjonsnytt (Organization News)
This section details changes in NUFOC's subscription prices, increasing from Kr. 20,- to Kr. 30,- per year starting in 1978. It also announces a merger of the affiliation fee and the subscription to the internal newsletter, making the combined fee Kr. 45,- per year, which includes the internal publication. The section also addresses issues with NUFOC's rapporteurs (reporters) who have reportedly failed to fulfill their duties, necessitating NUFOC to gather information through other means. A positive development is the establishment of contact with a US press clipping agency that will provide monthly UFO-related clippings from over 2800 North American newspapers.

Om Riksorganisationen UFO-Sverige (About the Swedish National Organization UFO-Sweden)
This article provides a detailed profile of UFO-Sverige, founded in 1970 by Carl-Axel Jonzon. It explains the organization's structure, including its annual general meeting, central committee, and membership types (individual and group). It outlines the responsibilities of various departments, such as Service (guidance for investigations), Information (editing material), and Rapportcentral (coordinating reports). UFO-Sverige publishes a 24-page magazine, "UFO-Information," six times a year.

UFO-film på Svenske Kinder (UFO Film in Swedish Hands)
This piece discusses the film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," directed by Stephen Spielberg and starring Richard Dreyfuss. It highlights that the film is based on documented material and deals with UFO visits to Earth. The article explains the 'close encounter' classification system developed by J. Allen Hynek, with the third type referring to observations of and contact with UFO occupants. The film's distribution in Sweden is mentioned, with a premiere expected in early 1978.

Det Hollandske Politi i Offisielt Samarbeide Med Privat UFO-Organisasjon (Dutch Police in Official Cooperation with a Private UFO Organization)
This article reports on the Dutch police's official cooperation with the private organization NOBOVO (Nederlands Onderzoek Bureau voor Ongeidentificeerde Vligende Objecten). Police stations are instructed to immediately alert NOBOVO when a UFO is reported. The article notes that this cooperation followed a positive assessment of NOBOVO by an official jury. It also mentions similar collaborations in other countries, such as Professor J. Allen Hynek's "CENTER FOR UFO-STUDIES" in the USA, which has a hotline for UFO reports from police, and NUFOC's agreement with the Norwegian Armed Forces.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine exhibits a critical yet engaged stance towards the UFO phenomenon. While acknowledging the existence of unexplained sightings, it heavily emphasizes the need for rigorous scientific investigation and debunks sensationalist claims and hoaxes. There's a clear effort to distinguish between genuine unexplained phenomena and misidentifications, psychological factors, or deliberate fabrications. The magazine also highlights the importance of organized research and the psychological well-being of witnesses, advocating for a more scientific and less sensational approach to UFO studies. The editorial stance appears to be one of promoting serious, evidence-based research while being skeptical of overly enthusiastic or unverified claims, as evidenced by the detailed critique of the article by Ron Westrum and the historical overview of debunked cases.

FAQ Section:
The FAQ section addresses key aspects of the issue, including the Hønefoss landing, the historical context of UFO sightings, the scientific validity of UFO phenomena, the psychological impact on witnesses, and information about UFO organizations.

Notable Quote:
"Religion og UFO-fenomener har mye til felles." (Religion and UFO phenomena have much in common.) - Salvador Freixedo, spoken at a national UFO logic congress in Acapulco.

This issue of UFO Forum, number 5/77, is primarily in Swedish with some Norwegian content. It covers a range of topics including astronomical phenomena, UFO sightings, and the activities of UFO organizations. The issue features articles on the life cycle of stars, the characteristics of neutron stars and white dwarfs, and the concept of black holes. It also includes reports on specific UFO incidents and details the structure and goals of UFO-Sverige, a Swedish UFO research organization.

Stellar Evolution: Birth, Life, and Death of Stars

The article "Stjerners födsel liv och död" (The Birth, Life, and Death of Stars) by Øyvind Andreassen, continuing from issue 2/77, delves into the final stages of stellar evolution. It explains the processes leading to nova and supernova explosions, where stars can release immense amounts of energy. The article discusses the formation of heavy elements within stars and the conditions that can lead to these explosive events. It introduces the concept of neutron stars, formed from the collapsed cores of massive stars, and highlights their extreme density and the pulsating radio emissions detected from pulsars, which were explained by Anthony Hewish.

The article also covers white dwarfs, which are the remnants of less massive stars that cool down over time. It contrasts the stability of these objects with the potential for a pulsating universe to alter them. The concept of black holes is also briefly mentioned as a possible outcome of the complete collapse of matter.

UFO Sightings and Evidence

The issue presents several visual accounts of UFO phenomena. One image from Sefar in Tassili, Sahara, is described as a cave painting depicting a tall figure possibly wearing a spacesuit, suggesting ancient encounters with advanced technology. Another photograph, taken by electrician Paul Villa in New Mexico in June 1963, shows a disc-shaped object. A third image, from the Argentine fleet on December 4, 1967, near Deception Islands in Antarctica, captures a strange flying craft observed during an evacuation from volcanic eruptions.

The magazine also features a collection of diagrams illustrating various types of UFOs reported by witnesses, indicating that not all sightings are of the classic 'flying saucer' shape.

A report from Australia describes a circular imprint found on a farm, measuring three meters in diameter with a 60 cm hole in the center and three shallower holes around the periphery. This incident, discovered by Mr. Philip Drage, is compared to a similar finding near York in October 1968. The RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) has requested a photograph for further investigation. The report notes that the grass around the imprint grew faster and thicker, suggesting an unusual phenomenon.

UFO-Sverige: Organization and Activities

The article "Riksorganisationen UFO-Sverige" details the establishment and operations of this Swedish organization, founded in 1970 by individuals concerned about the UFO phenomenon. Led by radar technician Carl-Axel Jonzon, UFO-Sverige aims to prove the existence of UFOs, gather knowledge about them, and inform the public. The organization has developed a system for visual aerial surveillance across Sweden, utilizing observation towers and shortwave radios.

UFO-Sverige also engages in public outreach through television appearances, school lectures, and presentations. A significant part of their work involves a slide show (stillfilm) that has been adapted for Norwegian conditions through an agreement with NUFOC. This adaptation was facilitated by the central group in Køping, led by chairman Thorvald Berthelsen.

Norwegian UFO Organizations and Activities

The Norwegian UFO Center Sørlandet is mentioned as planning new sections for emergency response and instrument research. The article also discusses the adaptation of the UFO-Sverige slide film for Norwegian use, with the goal of improving public information efforts in 1978, which is termed the 'great information year'.

There is also a discussion regarding proposed changes to NUFOC's payment routines, aimed at simplifying the process. The organization is seeking feedback from its subscribers on the current procedures.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the scientific exploration of astronomical phenomena (stars, neutron stars, black holes) and the investigation of UFO sightings and related evidence. The magazine adopts a stance of serious inquiry into both scientific and unexplained phenomena, presenting information from various sources, including eyewitness accounts and organizational reports. The editorial stance appears to be one of promoting research, information dissemination, and a critical yet open-minded approach to the UFO subject. The inclusion of advertisements for audio and video tapes, as well as a Hi-Fi store, suggests a broader interest in technology and media among the readership.