UFO Information - No 07

Magazine Overview

Title: HEILBRONNER UFO INFORMATION
Issue: 7
Volume: 84
Date: March 1984
Publisher: CENAP-HEILBRONN UFO-INFORMATION (U I)
Country: Germany
Language: German

This issue of the Heilbronn UFO Information bulletin focuses on a significant sighting of a fiery sphere over Heilbronn, Germany, on December 2, 1983, and features a lively debate concerning pre-astronautics theories.

Feuerball über Heilbronn. Ein UFO?

This lead article by Roland Gehardt details a widely observed phenomenon on December 2, 1983, across the Federal Republic of Germany. Many citizens were alarmed by this strange aerial event, leading to numerous calls to newspaper offices and police stations. Professor Heinz Kaminski of the Bochum Observatory was inundated with inquiries. CENAP-Heilbronn also received a report of a sighting that later proved to be identical to the others. On December 3, 1983, Larry Frey from Heilbronn-Böckingen contacted CENAP-Heilbronn to report a supposed UFO sighting. Frey had obtained the address through a mutual acquaintance who recalled an article in the "Heilbronner Stimme" newspaper.

The article provides specific details about the sighting: it occurred on December 2, 1983, between 19:30 and 19:31:30 Uhr, at the ESV Sportplatz in Heilbronn-Böckingen. The object was described as a bright, orange-red sphere. Larry Frey, a 17-year-old student and member of the ESV Heilbronn A-youth football team, noticed the object while playing. It flew from west to northeast, over their heads. As it passed overhead, the sphere split into two parts, likened to breaking a cookie in the middle. The "crumbs" were perceived as a rain of sparks. The larger first object continued with constant speed until it was out of sight, while the second piece slowed down and appeared to burn up. The entire event lasted approximately 1.5 minutes.

CENAP-Heilbronn later learned that this sighting was part of a larger wave of reports, which had already been picked up by Sunday newspapers. The investigation also involved comparing the Heilbronn sighting with reports from other regions, including North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony, where Professor Kaminski had calculated the descent point to be east of Paderborn and Kassel. However, reports from the Speyer region suggested a more southerly location, indicating the object might have been visible over a larger area and possibly in neighboring countries. Kaminski's subsequent research indicated the object was seen at a lower altitude in the south, which aligned with the Heilbronn observation.

Press Review (Pressespiegel)

The issue includes a compilation of various UFO-related news items from different publications:

• PRALINE 5/84: A humorous anecdote about a US radio station seeking "eight extras" for a fake moon landing shoot, which attracted 200 applicants.
• AP (January 30, 1984): A report from Bad Tölz about a 25-year-old man who built "flying saucers" from balloons filled with explosive gas, causing mysterious lights and explosions.
• UFO über Ukraine (January 13, 1984): Moscow reports that hundreds of Ukrainians saw a spaceship with a long fiery tail, which Soviet researchers attributed to a likely atmospheric reflection.
• A.P. (January 3, 1984): Mannheim reports that the local UFO research group CENAP expected more UFO reports, but identified them as simple mini-hot air balloons released as New Year's greetings.
• Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung (January 19, 1984): The article "Mond als Ufo-Basis?" discusses claims made by Spanish captain Jose Antonio Silva at the II. International Congress for Ufology in Vitoria. Silva alleged that NASA has evidence of UFOs, citing an astronaut's report of objects seen on the moon's surface during a landing. The article also mentions a Spanish pilot's observation of three UFOs in 1968 and journalist Juan Jose Benitez's claim that 80 Spanish pilots have had UFO encounters.

Nagora Entlarvt I (Nagora Unmasked I)

This section critically examines the "Nagora Photo Series," which since September 1971 has presented photos of primitive flying saucers claimed to be authentic. A recently published brochure by Klaus Webner reportedly demonstrates the "flimsiness" of these claims and explains the methods behind the "saucer trick photography."

Debate: Hain kontra Langbein

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to a written exchange between Walter Hain and Walter-Jörg Langbein, primarily concerning Langbein's book "Astronautengötter" (Astronaut Gods) and Hain's review of it. The debate touches upon theories of pre-astronautics and ancient astronauts.

Walter-Jörg Langbein's Letter: Langbein responds to Hain's review of his book. He clarifies that his book is not a paperback but a softcover edition, which reduced the price. He acknowledges that the content remains the same but points out that Hain's review mentioned printing errors that would be corrected in a future edition. Langbein accuses Hain of inconsistency, stating that Hain gave a passionate speech in Fulda supporting pre-astronautics, even though his book manuscript was already completed and contradicted this stance. Langbein criticizes Hain for presenting two opposing books on the market and questions the title "Irrwege der Geschichte" (Wandering Paths of History), suggesting it should be "Revision of the Gods - Astronauts and Atlantis." He claims Hain did not defame him but merely stated that Hain's views had changed. Langbein asserts that Hain's criticism is polemical and repetitive, and that Hain's previous publication "CONTRA" failed due to lack of interest.

Walter Hain's Response: Hain addresses Langbein's accusations. He clarifies that his book "Irrwege" was not a paperback and that his manuscript was completed in October 1980, but the book was published in June 1981, after further corrections. He accuses Langbein of misrepresenting the timeline by implying the manuscript was finished before his Fulda speech and by omitting the publication date. Hain insists that his views on Mars ruins evolved due to a greater information base in 1980/81 compared to 1978, calling it a learning process rather than a change of opinion. He defends his right to promote his own book. Hain also states his intention to withdraw from the fringe science scene due to past "failures" which he attributes to external factors, not his own work. He views pre-astronautics as nearing its end. Hain mentions that the review of Langbein's book and an article on Dendera were remnants of "CONTRA," published at the request of Herr Dollhopf, and he might also contribute an article on Atlantis.

Walter-Jörg Langbein's Further Comments: Langbein reiterates his accusation of deception against Hain. He maintains that Hain declared Mars ruins artificial in his Fulda lecture (October 1980) and his Mars book, but described them as natural in "Irrwege." He points out that the Fulda lecture was in late October, and the preface to "Irrwege" is dated Vienna 1980, suggesting Hain presented contradictory information. Langbein believes Hain was either speaking with "two tongues" or the Vienna date is incorrect. He emphasizes that Hain's preface implies the "Irrwege" manuscript was completed in 1980, and Hain himself confirmed this in a letter on August 27, 1981, stating the manuscript was finished before his Fulda lecture. Langbein concludes that Hain is now claiming the opposite.

Walter Hain's Second Response: Hain defends himself against Langbein's personal attacks, stating that Langbein is trying to shift focus from the core issue of "Schwungmacht" (momentum/driving force) and its connection to extraterrestrials. Hain questions whether it's more important for him to have stated his position or for Langbein and his "pro-astronautics" friends to prove their claims. He asserts that they remain stubborn and unwilling to learn, contrasting them with himself, who is willing to change his opinion based on new evidence. Hain clarifies that his Fulda lecture already contained criticism of pre-astronautics, and his invitation by Däniken was Däniken's decision. He confirms that the "Irrwege" manuscript was completed in October 1980 but published in June 1981, and he made corrections during that period. He stresses that the publication date is crucial and accuses Langbein of deliberately withholding this information to mislead readers, calling Langbein's presentation of quotes chronologically inaccurate and misleading.

Editorial Note

The editors acknowledge that Walter Hain's contributions would provoke strong reactions from his ideological opponents. They note that these reactions often lack concrete arguments and devolve into personal attacks, which are inappropriate for factual debates. The editors express support for Hain, stating that his magazine "CONTRA" was destined to fail because its audience preferred sensationalism over critical analysis. They praise Hain for his courage in presenting critical views and quote Dr. Hans Biedermann, who noted that "soap bubble pseudo-fairy tales are more fun for the reader than all attempts to bring reason into play as a necessary brake." The editors conclude that the average reader craves fantasy and adventure over substantial information.

Contact Information and Advertisements

The issue concludes with various advertisements and contact details:

• CENAP: Information about CENAP, Germany's most serious UFO research group, offering information on specific topics and sample copies of the monthly CENAP REPORTS.
• Material Wanted: Gilbert Schmitz from Luxembourg is seeking materials (books, magazines, slides, photos, films, VHS tapes) about UFO sightings by astronauts.
• Free Advertising: An offer for free advertising in various hobbyist and private magazines, promoting the exchange of ideas and contact between diverse groups.
• Kontakt-Katalog: Information about a catalog containing 748 addresses and descriptions, facilitating connections with like-minded individuals and publications.
• UFO Alarmzentralen: Contact details for UFO alarm centers in Mannheim, Heilbronn, and Lüdenscheid, including names, addresses, and phone numbers.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, meteor events, and the ongoing debate surrounding pre-astronautics and ancient astronaut theories. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of critical inquiry and factual analysis, as evidenced by the support for Walter Hain and the critique of sensationalism and unsubstantiated claims within the UFO community. The magazine positions itself as a serious UFO publication, emphasizing factual reporting and reasoned debate over speculative or pseudoscientific content.