UFO Information - No 23

Magazine Overview

This issue of "HEILBRONNER UFO INFORMATION" (UFO-Information), published by CENAP-HEILBRONN, is dated October 1985 and is identified as issue number 23. The magazine focuses on UFO and UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) reports and investigations, with this particular issue detailing a specific sighting and the subsequent investigative efforts.

Main Article: The Wüstenrot Sighting

The central focus of this issue is a UFO sighting that occurred on Friday, January 25, 1985, near Wüstenrot, Germany. The report begins with a "VORWORT" (Foreword) stating that this sighting, provisionally classified as 'unidentified', is the first of its kind reported to the CENAP-network since 1978. It is noted as the 33rd such investigation by the Heilbronn branch, following a previous 'unidentified' case from 'Weißenstadt' in 1966.

The "BERICHT" (Report) section provides a detailed account from the witness, identified as Frau K. She was driving to work around 5:00 AM when a bright light illuminated her car. Upon looking up, she saw an object shaped like a boot, as large as a car, flying slowly from west to east at an estimated distance of 150-200 meters, appearing to descend. The object was described as bright and silent. Frau K. turned off her car radio and drove towards Löwenstein, but continued to observe the object. She stopped briefly before Bernbach and saw the object hovering over a meadow, illuminated. She felt threatened and experienced significant fear, prompting her to drive away quickly. She noted that the object was still visible and bright in her rearview mirror.

The report then analyzes Frau K.'s statement, noting that her fear, while understandable given the unusual nature of the sighting, does not inherently prove the object's extraterrestrial origin but rather indicates she saw something unfamiliar. The object's color was described as white-yellow, its flight path as straight, and it exhibited no color or course changes, nor any blinking lights or position lights. The estimated altitude was about 30 meters above the ground. The size, when estimated with an outstretched arm, was about 10 cm, though this is considered less reliable. No electromagnetic interactions were noted.

Investigation Details

The "UNTRSUCHUNG" (Investigation) section details the efforts made by CENAP-Heilbronn to verify the sighting. The witness's mother, who works at the post office in Heilbronn, alerted the CENAP-OGH (Local Group Heilbronn) after noticing Frau K.'s nervousness. Frau K. was then referred to the CENAP investigator, Roland Gehardt. A meeting was arranged for January 27, 1985, in Wüstenrot, where Roland Gehardt and Jochen Ickinger interviewed Frau K. and had her fill out a questionnaire. The investigators found no contradictions in her account and deemed her credible.

They also learned that Frau K. had not previously been involved with UFO research, though she had an interest in the topic and related subjects. Her general opinion on UFOs was described as undecided, leaning towards skepticism regarding 'flying saucers' and 'little green men', but she did not rule out the existence of extraterrestrial intelligence. The size estimation using the S/M-test (likely a reference to a specific measurement technique) was 5 cm, implying a significant reduction factor. The investigators visited the sighting location and took photos, with Frau K. indicating the object's position. No physical traces were found.

Police Involvement and Further Inquiries

Following the initial interview, Frau K.'s sister advised her to contact the police. A police officer visited Frau K. and took a report. To gather more information, Roland Gehardt contacted the Heilbronn police department on January 29, 1985. The press office referred him to the Neuhütten station, which had handled the initial report. The officer at Neuhütten redirected him to the Weinsberg precinct, stating he was not authorized to provide information to private groups. The Weinsberg officer eventually provided information, confirming that a police officer from Heilbronn had been tasked with obtaining a report from Neuhütten. This officer visited Wüstenrot, interviewed Frau K., inspected the site, and found nothing unusual. He then contacted the Stuttgart air traffic control to inquire about any air traffic at the time of the sighting. Air traffic control confirmed that there were no civilian or private flights, nor any scheduled airline flights over the area at that time.

Explanatory Theories

The magazine then presents several "Erklärungstheorien" (Explanatory Theories) based on the investigation:

• Theory 1: Helicopter: The flight behavior and optical appearance could suggest a helicopter, possibly military, given the presence of American barracks near Heilbronn. However, inquiries to the US military press office and the city's defense procurement office yielded no information about helicopter maneuvers or flights on that date. A key point against this theory is the object's complete silence, even at close range (100m), which would be unlikely for a helicopter.
• Theory 2: Aircraft: The Stuttgart airport's air traffic control was contacted again. They confirmed that a flight path from Stuttgart to Frankfurt passed over the eastern part of the region, but provided no specific details about flights on the sighting date. The information from the Weinsberg police was the primary source here.
• Theory 3: Stars/Planets: To investigate astronomical possibilities, an astronomer was consulted. On January 25, 1985, at 5:00 AM MEZ, Saturn was visible low above the horizon, about 15-20 degrees high. The moon was between new moon and the first quarter, low on the northern horizon. This does not align with the described object.
• Theory 4: Astronomical Phenomenon: While considered unlikely, this possibility was explored. Three observatories and planetariums were contacted. The response from the Sternwarte Bochum and the Schwäbische Volkssternwarte Stuttgart indicated that no such astronomical object was known. The Bayerische Volkssternwarte in Munich suggested that hot air balloons could be responsible for many UFO sightings, a view shared by CENAP.
• Theory 5: Balloon: The possibility of a weather balloon was also considered. Inquiries were made to the Stuttgart weather office. A balloon was launched from Stuttgart on January 25, 1985, at 0:00 UTC. The wind direction at the time and location of the sighting matched the balloon's potential trajectory. However, the witness described the object as very bright and illuminating the snow below, which would not be typical of a balloon. Furthermore, the object's shape could be explained by a deflated balloon, but the witness stated it flew over trees, suggesting it was not in a state of falling, and the balloon should have been found if it had crashed.

Additional Witnesses and Conclusion

The issue concludes by mentioning that further investigation uncovered two more witnesses who observed a similar object about 100 meters west of the initial sighting location, on a forest clearing. This object was also described as bright and silent and moved in a straight line. These additional witnesses were known to Frau K., though she was unaware they had also seen the object until recently. The report states that these three independent observations strengthen the credibility of the event.

Based on all findings, the sighting is classified as "unidentified" and a CE-II case (Close Encounter of the Second Kind). The editors emphasize that this classification does not necessarily imply an extraterrestrial spacecraft, suggesting a preference for plasma or physical phenomena. They acknowledge that new findings could lead to reclassification in the future, but for now, the case is categorized as 'UFO/UAP'.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes a serious, investigative approach to UFO phenomena. The editors express a preference for natural or physical explanations (like plasma phenomena) over immediate extraterrestrial conclusions. They highlight the importance of detailed witness testimony, corroborating evidence, and thorough investigation, including consultation with authorities like the police and air traffic control. The publication aims to provide a platform for documented UFO cases and their analysis, encouraging skepticism while remaining open to the possibility of unexplained phenomena. The involvement of multiple witnesses is seen as a key factor in validating a case.

This document is a collection of correspondence and information related to UFO research and sightings in Germany, primarily from early 1985. It includes letters from various official and private organizations, as well as a section detailing German UFO alarm centers and publications. The overall tone suggests an active interest in unexplained aerial phenomena and related events.

Correspondence and Inquiries

Amt für Verteidigungslasten (Office for Defense Loads)

A letter dated February 4, 1985, from Ingeborg Stringer of the US Military Community Heilbronn (AETS-HN-PAO) to Jochen Ickinger addresses an inquiry about maneuver movements on January 25, 1985, in the Wüstenrot area. The office states they have no information about maneuvers from units stationed elsewhere, as these often involve units from other locations. They suggest contacting the Amt für Verteidigungslasten in the Heilbronn town hall or the Landratsamt for information on military exercises.

Another letter, from the Stadt Heilbronn (City of Heilbronn) dated February 12, 1985, signed by Gábler, also responds to Jochen Ickinger regarding maneuver movements on January 25, 1985, in the Wüstenrot area. They state they have no knowledge of this maneuver and no information regarding helicopter flights.

Bundesanstalt für Flugsicherung (Federal Institute for Air Navigation Safety)

A letter from the FS-Stelle Stuttgart (Stuttgart Air Navigation Safety Office) dated April 15, 1985, addressed to Roland Gerhardt, responds to an inquiry about flight path G 31 from Stuttgart Airport. They confirm that Wüstenrot lies under the eastern part of this air traffic route, with air traffic generally heading north. The minimum flight altitude in this section is approximately 1500m, with air traffic controlled by Stuttgart up to 3000m, and by regional/central control centers above that. They cannot provide further details on the reported observations.

Sternwarte Bochum (Bochum Observatory)

A letter from Sternwarte Bochum dated April 22, 1985, to Roland Gehardt, addresses an inquiry about a luminous object. They state they cannot provide a satisfactory answer and that astronomical phenomena are unlikely, as only meteors move quickly enough to be noticeable. They find the description of a meteor in the shape of a shoe difficult to believe. They suggest that the observer be questioned about the duration of the event for a better assessment, leaning towards the possibility of a helicopter or balloon.

Schwäbische Sternwarte e.V. (Swabian Observatory)

Another letter, dated April 8, 1985, to Roland Gehardt, from Schwäbische Sternwarte e.V., also addresses an inquiry about a luminous object. Similar to the Bochum Observatory, they cannot provide a definitive answer, noting that astronomical phenomena are unlikely. They also find the idea of a meteor shaped like a shoe unusual and suggest further questioning about the duration of the observation.

Bayerische Volkssternwarte München e.V. (Bavarian People's Observatory Munich)

A letter from the Bayerische Volkssternwarte München e.V. dated April 18, 1985, to Roland Gehardt, suggests that the observed phenomenon might be a 'somewhat dilapidated hot air balloon.' They note that hot air balloons are currently popular and often seen at night, appearing 'highly UFO-suspicious.'

Deutscher Wetterdienst (German Weather Service)

A document from the Wetteramt Stuttgart (Stuttgart Weather Office) dated April 17, 1985, addressed to Roland Gerhardt, provides meteorological data for January 25, 1985, in the Wüstenrot area. It details cloud cover, wind speed and direction, and balloon ascent data. The report indicates that at 03:00 UTC, seven-eighths of the sky was covered with clouds, with wind from the SW. It also includes information on ground wind and upper air currents at 5 km altitude, as well as data from various European weather stations and balloon launches.

Article: "WIE KÖNNTEN UFO'S ZU UNS KOMMEN?" (How Could UFOs Come to Us?)

This section appears to be a correction or addendum to a previous article by Ing. Joachim Jahn. It addresses the concept of 'time slip' (ZEITSPRUNG).

What is meant by 'Time Slip'?

The article explains that 'time slip' is presented as factual in books by authors like Charles Berlitz and Johannes von Buttlar. Several examples are provided:

• a) Florida Flight: An aircraft vanished from radar for 5 minutes and reappeared in the same spot. The onboard clocks and passengers' watches were found to be 5 minutes behind.
• b) Minuteman Missile: A Minuteman missile at Vandenberg, California, disappeared from radar for 72 hours after launch and reappeared in the same location. A nearby cesium atomic clock reportedly lagged by 1.1 microseconds. However, this incident is later revealed to be a fabrication by the author, as confirmed by ZDF and Hoimar von Ditfurth, who found no crew members recalling such an event.
• c) World War I: 8000 English soldiers allegedly marched into a fog bank and never reappeared, with 150 people reportedly attesting to this.
• d) Argentina to Florida: A car and its occupants were allegedly transported over 4000 km in seconds, with a time difference noted.

The article highlights that in these phenomena, subjects experience very short personal time compared to Earth time, as if they were temporarily removed from a 'super space.' Modern science considers such events possible, but their occurrence is not definitively proven. The Vandenberg missile incident is explicitly identified as a fictional account by Johannes von Buttlar.

German UFO Alarm Centers

This section lists various UFO organizations and contact points in Germany:

• GEP (Gemeinschaft zur Erforschung unbekannter Phänomene e.V.): Located in Lüdenscheid, dedicated to researching unknown phenomena.
• CENAP (Centrum für NFO-Analyse und Prä-Astronautik): Contact persons include Hansjürgen Köhler in Mannheim and Werner Walter in Mannheim.
• Heilbronn Contacts: Jochen Ickinger and Roland Gehardt are listed as contacts in Heilbronn.
• MYSTERIA: A journal for UFO research and astro-astronautics, offering subscriptions and special offers.
• ANTARES NEWS: A bi-monthly publication.
• UFO FORSCHUNG: The journal of the GEP, offering a trial issue.

The section also promotes the "SERIÖSE UFO FACHZEITSCHRIFT" (Serious UFO Fachzeitschrift).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this document are UFO sightings, military activities, and the investigation of unexplained phenomena. There's a clear effort to provide official responses to inquiries, often stating a lack of information or offering meteorological explanations. The inclusion of the 'time slip' article and the listing of UFO organizations suggest a publication aimed at enthusiasts and researchers in the field, with a critical yet open approach to investigating claims, as evidenced by the debunking of the Vandenberg missile incident. The editorial stance appears to be one of providing information and facilitating communication between inquirers and relevant authorities or research groups.