UFO Information - 1978 No 02

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO-INFORMATION
Issue: NR 2 1978
Publisher: UFO-SVERIGE
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish
ISSN: 0346-3540
Price: 50 kronor helår

This issue of UFO-INFORMATION, published by UFO-SVERIGE, focuses on unexplained phenomena, historical mysteries, and scientific investigations into UFOs. The cover features an illustration of the Mary Celeste with a UFO, hinting at the prominent article on the ship's mystery.

Table of Contents

The issue includes a detailed table of contents, listing articles such as "Framtidsvisioner" (Future Visions), "Astronomer ser och registrerar UFO!" (Astronomers See and Register UFOs!), "Människan kunde flyga för 10 000 år sedan" (Humans Could Fly 10,000 Years Ago), "Briggen Mary Celeste," "Han gick ombord på en främmande farkost" (He Boarded a Strange Craft), and several other pieces exploring UFO sightings and related topics.

Articles and Features

Framtidsvisioner (Future Visions)

This article discusses the long-term prospects for the UFO movement and its integration into societal discourse. The author suggests that as public interest grows, politicians will eventually address UFOs to gain votes. The piece emphasizes the importance of public education and the slow process of acceptance for fringe topics, noting that people are more inclined to believe a widely repeated lie than a less-heard truth. It also touches upon the challenges of data processing for UFO reports due to their often psychological nature and the difficulty in avoiding biased datasets.

Astronomer ser och registrerar UFO! (Astronomers See and Register UFOs!)

This article reports on a comprehensive survey conducted by Dr. Peter A. Sturrock of Stanford University. The survey revealed that 80% of US astronomers believe UFOs warrant further scientific study, and 62 astronomers admitted to having personally seen or registered UFOs. The article highlights several intriguing accounts from astronomers, including a UFO chase in Ontario, Canada, and a sighting of a "flat, silver-gray" UFO in New Mexico that caused a vehicle's engine to die. Another report details a radar detection of an object moving at extremely high speeds. The article concludes by noting Dr. Sturrock's encouragement from the response and his desire to foster information exchange within the astronomical community.

Människan kunde flyga för 10 000 år sedan (Humans Could Fly 10,000 Years Ago)

This feature explores the theory that ancient Peruvians possessed the technology for balloon flight. Two researchers, Bill Spohrer and Jim Woodman, plan to use a balloon flight over Peru to investigate the Nazca lines, suggesting they may have served as navigational aids for ancient balloon travelers rather than landing strips for extraterrestrial visitors. The article references legends of flying people and the account of Jesuit Bartolomei de Gusmao, who claimed to have seen Peruvians flying in balloons in 1690. It also mentions the discovery of textile fragments in a Peruvian grave that could have been used for balloon construction. The article draws a parallel to the Montgolfier brothers' later balloon flights and notes the existence of similar giant figures, like the 'White Horse of Uffington' in England, which are best viewed from a height.

Briggen Mary Celeste

This is a multi-part series detailing the enduring mystery of the Mary Celeste, a brigantine found adrift and deserted in the Atlantic Ocean in 1872. The article recounts the discovery by the bark Dei Gratia, the eerie state of the ship with its galley oven still warm, and the lack of any signs of struggle or panic. It explores various theories, including mutiny, piracy, and even extraterrestrial involvement. A significant portion of the article focuses on the account of John Pemberton, the ship's cook, as relayed through author Laurence J. Keating. Pemberton's story suggests a conspiracy involving the charter company and a deliberate cover-up to hide the true circumstances of the crew's disappearance, possibly involving a secret passenger named Abel Fosdyk. The article also debunks some sensationalized versions of the event, attributing them to embellishments by individuals like Arthur Conan Doyle.

#### The Mary Celeste Incident

The narrative begins with the Dei Gratia spotting the Mary Celeste. The crew of the Dei Gratia boards the vessel to find it deserted. The galley oven is warm, and a meal is partially prepared, indicating a sudden departure. The ship itself is in good condition, with no damage suggesting a struggle. The article notes the presence of a partially eaten meal and warm tea, adding to the unsettling atmosphere.

#### Possible Explanations and Theories

Several theories are presented. One common explanation suggests the ship's cargo of alcohol and whale oil became unstable, leading the crew to abandon ship in the only lifeboat, which was then lost. Another theory, attributed to Abel Fosdyk, claims he was a secret passenger who survived a catastrophic event where the deck collapsed, sending the crew and Briggs's family into the sea, where they were attacked by sharks. Fosdyk's account is presented as a possible explanation for the strange marks on the ship's hull. The article also mentions the peculiar coincidence of four other single-handed sailors disappearing in the same area west of the Azores.

#### Fosdyk's Account

Howard Linford, an employee of Abel Fosdyk, allegedly inherited papers detailing Fosdyk's account. Fosdyk claimed to be a secret passenger on the Mary Celeste. He described Captain Briggs's wife falling overboard and dying after being injured by a piano during a storm. Briggs then allegedly went mad, barricaded himself in his cabin, and the crew descended into chaos, with some dying and others jumping overboard. Fosdyk claimed to have survived by clinging to a piece of wreckage and drifting for days before washing ashore in Africa. However, the article points out inconsistencies in Fosdyk's story, such as the ship's weight and the nationality of the crew.

#### The Role of Ergotism

Another article, "Han gick ombord på en främmande farkost" (He Boarded a Strange Craft), discusses the Pont St Esprit incident of 1951. This event involved mass hysteria where people experienced terrifying hallucinations, believing they were being attacked by devils or demons. The cause was identified as ergotism, a poisoning from ergot fungus found in rye bread. The article draws a parallel between this unexplained mass madness and the Mary Celeste mystery, suggesting that a similar, though perhaps more subtle, form of poisoning or psychological influence could have caused the crew to abandon their ship.

Han gick ombord på en främmande farkost (He Boarded a Strange Craft)

This article details the Pont St Esprit incident in France in 1951, where a town was gripped by mass hysteria, leading to deaths and delusions. The cause was identified as ergotism, a poisoning from ergot fungus in rye bread. The author speculates that a similar, though perhaps less obvious, influence might have affected the Mary Celeste crew, causing them to abandon their ship in a state of panic or delusion.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

UFO-INFORMATION consistently explores unexplained phenomena, historical enigmas, and potential scientific explanations for UFO sightings. The magazine appears to maintain an open-minded yet critical stance, presenting various theories and accounts while also acknowledging inconsistencies and the need for further investigation. The editorial stance emphasizes the importance of increased knowledge and public awareness regarding UFO phenomena. The publication is presented as an organ for the Swedish UFO organization, UFO-Sverige, indicating a commitment to promoting discussion and research within the UFO community. The inclusion of historical mysteries like the Mary Celeste suggests a broader interest in unexplained events that may have parallels with modern UFO reports.

This issue of UFO-Aktuellt, dated 1/1977, is a Swedish publication from UFO-Sverige, focusing on UFO phenomena with a critical and scientific approach. It features a detailed witness account, theoretical discussions, and an analysis of the 'spaceship hypothesis'.

Witness Account: The Godói Sighting

The issue begins with a detailed account from Maurilio Braga Godói, a taxi driver from Santo Amaro, Brazil. On November 2, 1954, at 10:30 PM, Godói encountered a large, circular, glowing object (approximately 30-35 meters in diameter) that had landed on an undeveloped lot. The object emitted a strange blue-red or violet glow. Initially hesitant, Godói felt compelled to investigate. He discovered an open, sliding door and entered a large, circular room illuminated by a soft, lamp-less light. He saw no one inside, noting the ship appeared abandoned. In the center of the room was a table with maps and diagrams, including one of South America that had a glowing quality and featured strange, sponge-like symbols arranged randomly.

Godói's examination of the map was interrupted when he noticed three beings observing him. They were small (under 150 cm), had dark skin, short black hair, and wore plain, light-grey, overall-like suits without buttons or zippers. Each wore a belt from which an object resembling a pistol hung. The beings remained silent, conversing in an unintelligible language where the 'K' sound was frequently repeated. Godói experienced a moment of paralysis and fear but was then drawn backward towards the ship's door against his will. He then escaped and ran. As he looked back, the object was hovering about 10 meters above the ground, with a 'screw without end' visible on its underside. The craft then ascended silently at high speed, surrounded by a blue-red glow.

Following his report, Godói was examined by several psychiatrists in Sao Paulo, who found no signs of neurosis or psychosis. The case is documented in the Brazilian Air Force archives as 'unidentified'. The source for this account is cited as 'Flying Saucer Occupants' by Coral & Jim Lorenzen, with translation by Sören Andersson.

Critical Evaluation and Scientific-Theoretical Contribution to the UFO Question

This section features an article by Professor Martin Johnson, who was a keynote speaker at UFO-Sverige's 1977 national conference. Johnson, a professor of parapsychology, aims to provide a methodological and scientific-theoretical contribution to the UFO question, suggesting UFO-Sverige is taking a more serious and moderate approach.

Johnson states he is not a UFO expert but has had an interest since Kenneth Arnold's 1947 sighting. He is familiar with U.S. Air Force reports, the critique of their UFO studies, and J. Allen Hynek's work, as well as the 'UFO Enigma' report from the Library of Congress.

He identifies several similarities between parapsychology and UFO research:

1. Religious undertones: Both fields attract elements of 'stubborn religiosity' and a sense of mysticism.
2. Unclear definitions: Both extrasensory perception (ESP) and UFOs suffer from poorly defined terms, with researchers struggling to establish stringent definitions.
3. Sensationalism: Mass media often sensationalizes both fields, lacking critical thinking. The 'Geller psychosis' is cited as an example of media hype around psychic phenomena.
4. Scientific establishment reaction: The scientific community often dismisses proponents of both fields as fantasists or less knowledgeable, attempting to reduce observations to known science or simply ignoring the phenomena.
5. Low priority and funding: Both fields receive low priority for qualified research and funding, leading to observations often being made by individuals without adequate training.
6. Unusual and diverse phenomena: Both fields deal with highly unusual and varied phenomena, making it difficult to establish clear criteria and distinguish genuine events from hoaxes.
7. Time lag in reporting: The time between an observation and its reporting can be long, negatively impacting witness psychology.
8. Subjectivity and trickery: Observations are often made under unfavorable conditions (darkness, twilight), and witnesses may not be prepared, leading to potential misperceptions or deliberate tricks.
9. Oversimplification and occultism: Both fields can become a 'slush fund' for various occult beliefs, with unrelated observations interpreted as signs of extraterrestrial activity.
10. Anthropocentric worldview: Both ufologists and parapsychologists tend to view humanity as central and special in the cosmic context, a perspective Johnson finds difficult to reconcile with the vastness of the universe.

Johnson emphasizes the vastness of the universe, stating that even understanding distances of a few light-years is challenging, let alone contemplating interstellar travel. He discusses Carl Sagan's estimations of potential civilizations in the Milky Way, suggesting that even with a high rate of interstellar travel, visits to Earth would be improbable.

He also touches upon the idea that human atomic explosions might have attracted extraterrestrial attention, but notes the time lag between the first atomic bomb (1945) and potential reporting makes this unlikely unless faster-than-light travel is involved.

Johnson argues that while UFO phenomena and paranormal experiences might be highly probable, their study is potentially significant. He questions whether humanity can afford *not* to study them, even if the probability of extraterrestrial visitation is low.

He addresses the claim that reputable scientists have not observed UFOs, clarifying that while no reputable astronomer has confirmed a landing extraterrestrial craft, many have observed unidentified phenomena that they could not explain.

Regarding Carl Sagan's views on UFOs as extraterrestrial craft, Johnson notes Sagan's work on the number of potential life-bearing planets in our galaxy. Sagan estimates about a million such planets could harbor life and potentially develop advanced civilizations interested in reconnaissance.

The Spaceship Hypothesis

K. Stenödegård and Joan Crexells discuss the 'spaceship hypothesis', which posits that UFOs are physical craft from other planets. Stenödegård notes that while many reports describe 'clearly constructed craft' and 'humanoids', the hypothesis struggles to explain the full spectrum of phenomena.

Crexells highlights the increasing 'incongruence' (lack of coherence) in UFO reports regarding the appearance of craft and beings. Despite this, the extraterrestrial hypothesis remains, as no alternative explanation is readily apparent. He points out that while descriptions of craft vary, they consistently appear as solid objects, not fluid. He also mentions that UFOs do not seem to cause damage to the environment, nor do their occupants exhibit behaviors that would suggest hostile intent.

Crexells suggests that the purpose of UFO appearances might be to make humanity aware of their existence, perhaps by taking samples or performing seemingly random actions. He also posits that the way UFOs are presented might be adapted to the current technological era, suggesting a possible future contact scenario.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine adopts a critical yet open-minded stance towards UFO phenomena. It encourages scientific investigation and rigorous analysis, while acknowledging the unexplained aspects of many sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of seeking a deeper understanding of these phenomena, rather than outright dismissal or blind acceptance. There is a clear emphasis on the need for better methodology, clearer definitions, and a more objective approach to evidence, drawing parallels with the challenges faced in parapsychology research. The publication aims to foster debate and critical thinking among its readers.

Title: UFO-Aspekt
Issue: 2/1977
Publication Date: August 1976 (for some reports), 1977 (for the issue itself)
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of UFO-Aspekt delves into various UFO phenomena, focusing on reported sightings, encounters, and the scientific and speculative hypotheses surrounding them. It features a mix of news reports, personal accounts, and analytical articles.

The 'Spaceship Hypothesis' Questioned

The article "Håller rymdskeppshypotesen?" (Does the Spaceship Hypothesis Hold Up?) by K. Stenödegård critically examines the popular theory that UFOs are spacecraft from other planets. Stenödegård argues that the immense distances between stars make such regular travel highly improbable. He uses a model comparing the solar system to sand grains and an apple to illustrate the vastness of space, suggesting that even traveling to the nearest star would require an enormous area.

He notes that the Condon Committee deemed the spaceship hypothesis the most unlikely. While acknowledging that life might exist elsewhere, Stenödegård questions the reported behavior of UFO occupants, describing their actions as often absurd and lacking clear purpose, such as stopping cars or picking up pebbles. He also points out the contradiction between the supposed technological superiority of aliens and their ability to communicate in human languages, sometimes even in the observer's native tongue, as seen in the case of Sergeant Charles Moody.

Jacques Vallee and Professor Allen Hynek are cited as researchers who also find significant problems with the spaceship hypothesis, with Vallee calling it a naive expression of ignorance.

Alternative Hypotheses: Folkloric Connections

Stenödegård proposes looking at 'folkloric experiences' from different cultures as a potential avenue for understanding UFO phenomena. He draws parallels between descriptions of mythical beings like 'småfolk' (small folk), 'pysslingar' (sprites), and 'älvor' (elves) in Scandinavian folklore, and modern accounts of UFO occupants. These beings are often described as having large heads, slender bodies, glowing 'cat eyes,' and appearing with 'blue light phenomena.' Their behavior, including sometimes scaring people but also helping them, and their alleged ability to abduct humans and take them to other realms where time passes differently, are seen as remarkably similar to UFO encounters.

He references Erich von Däniken's work but chooses to focus on more recent folklore, suggesting that these ancient stories might offer clues to the nature of the unknown phenomenon, even if they don't involve literal space travel.

Brazilian UFO Cases

The magazine presents a chronological report of UFO incidents from Brazil, compiled from MUFON representatives, detailing events that occurred primarily in late 1975 and early 1976.

• September 5, 1975, Itaperuna, Rio de Janeiro: Three students and a farmer reported being 'bothered' by a UFO. The farmer witnessed the event and another person photographed a 'shining circle' in the sky. The students described seeing 'bright light followed by foreign objects in level flight.'
• December 17, 1975, Americana, Sao Paulo: A 16-year-old named Sergio Salles de Andrade claims he was abducted by a flying saucer. He woke up in a forest with three mysterious marks on his body. Despite initial skepticism from a police officer, he later experienced recurring headaches related to the incident.
• March 20, 1976, General Sampaio, Ceara State: Farmer Arlindo Ferreira sustained second-degree burns, which doctors attributed to a bright light from a strange object. He reported an object flying overhead at 10 PM. Authorities declined to comment, but similar phenomena were reported elsewhere in Ceara.
• March 11, 1976, Jurema, Pernambuco: A 'flying saucer' hovered over a football field for ten minutes, emitting a sharp orange glow. Witnesses were frightened, and the object eventually disappeared at high speed.
• March 30, 1976, Quixada, Ceara: Student Francisca Roseti da Silva reported being blinded by a bright light from an object that followed her. She experienced burns and nervous distress, and other students also reported seeing an illuminated object.
• April 7, 1976, Sao Paulo: A worker named Genival Fernandes observed a large 'flying saucer' hovering about 3 meters above the ground, emitting colored light beams. An antenna extended from an opening, and the object rotated rapidly before ascending at high speed. Police arrived after the object had departed.

Near-Collision with a UFO

A dramatic account details an incident on September 19, 1976, where a TAP Flight 241, a Boeing 707 with 101 passengers en route to Africa from Lisbon, had a near-collision with a UFO. Co-pilot Armindo Pinto described a bright, pipe-like object, approximately 300 meters away, that filled three-quarters of the cockpit window. The object emitted sparks and fire.

Flight captain Eloy Weigert confirmed seeing the object, which had multiple bright lights resembling windows. He executed a sharp evasive maneuver, narrowly avoiding a collision. The object moved to their left and then below them. Weigert stated he had never seen anything like it in his 32 years of flying, ruling out conventional aircraft or meteorites.

Interestingly, the UFO was not detected by radar at Lisbon's control tower. However, the chief of traffic control, Carlos Costa, visually observed a bright light moving near the TAP plane. He confirmed that there was no radar echo for the object, and it emitted red flashes before disappearing at high speed.

Later, another Portuguese Boeing 707 (TAP Flight 130), flying about 900 kilometers east, reported seeing a very bright light moving rapidly from west to east, disappearing within 45 seconds. The co-pilot, Manuel Alexio, noted it resembled neither an airplane nor a meteorite and joked that they had likely seen a UFO.

None of the passengers on the TAP Flight 241 reported seeing the UFO, likely due to their seating position and the object's location relative to the aircraft during the evasive maneuver.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently questions the conventional 'spaceship hypothesis' by highlighting the immense distances involved in interstellar travel and the often illogical or absurd behavior reported in UFO encounters. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, exploring alternative explanations rooted in folklore and historical accounts while also presenting documented sightings and incidents. There is a clear emphasis on the unexplained nature of the UFO phenomenon, with a call for continued research and investigation into these 'unknown phenomena.' The magazine aims to present factual reports while encouraging readers to consider various interpretations beyond the most common theories.