UFO Information - 1980 No 04

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO-INFORMATION
Issue: 4
Volume/Year: 1980
Date: October 1980 (implied by issue number and year)
Publisher: UFO-Information
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish
ISSN: 0346-3540
Price: 60 SEK for a full year subscription.

This issue of UFO-INFORMATION, a Swedish magazine focused on unidentified flying objects and related phenomena, presents a mix of eyewitness accounts, historical space exploration milestones, and editorial commentary on the UFO movement.

Cover Story: Encounter in Västervik

The cover prominently features a photograph of a young woman, Lilli-Ann Karlsson, and details an unsettling encounter she experienced on the night of December 3-4, 1980, in Västervik, Sweden. She reported meeting two white-clad beings with large eyes and indistinct facial features in a green area. The beings and their craft, described as a UFO, disappeared. The article directs readers to page 12 for more details.

Editorial: The UFO Movement at a Crossroads

An editorial by Carl-Axel Jonzon, the responsible publisher, discusses the state of the UFO movement after eleven years of publication. Jonzon questions whether the movement has achieved any radical breakthroughs in understanding the UFO enigma. He notes the abundance of confusing material and suggests that 'visitors' may be intentionally spreading misinformation to hide their intentions. He posits that the visitors are likely far more advanced than humans. Jonzon proposes that for the UFO phenomenon to be more widely accepted, a counter-performance from the human side is needed, starting with official recognition from authorities. He also entertains the idea of spiritual and moral development as a means to achieve better contact.

Space Exploration: Twenty Years in Space

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to a retrospective on twenty years of space exploration since the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957. This section, accompanied by detailed illustrations, covers:

• Sputnik 1 (1957): The first artificial satellite, weighing 83 kg.
• Sputnik 2 (1957): Launched a month later, weighing 502 kg and carrying the dog Laika.
• Explorer 1 (1958): The first US satellite, which discovered the Van Allen radiation belts.
• Tiros (1960): The first weather satellite, used to detect hurricanes.
• Vostok-1 (1961): Carried Yuri Gagarin, the first human into space.
• Mercury Program (1962): John Glenn's orbital flight in 'Friendship 7'.
• Gemini Program: Two-man capsules that set records for duration and distance, including the first space rendezvous.
• Telstar 1 (1962): The first commercial telecommunications satellite.
• Luna 9 (1966): The first Soviet soft landing on the Moon.
• Apollo Program: Culminating in the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969, with Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin walking on the surface. A total of 12 people have walked on the Moon.
• Lunokhod-1 & 2 (1970s): Soviet robotic lunar rovers.
• Salyut Program: Soviet space stations, with Salyut-1 launched in 1971.
• Pioneer 10 & 11 (1972-1979): US probes exploring Jupiter and Saturn.
• Landsat 1 (1972): The first Earth resources satellite.
• Skylab: A US space laboratory that underwent significant repairs after launch.
• Mariner 10 (1973): Photographed Mercury and Venus.
• Venera 7, 9, & 10 (1970s): Soviet probes that soft-landed on Venus.
• Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (1975): Joint US-Soviet mission demonstrating spacecraft docking.
• Viking 1 & 2 (1976): Landed on Mars to search for signs of life.
• Voyager 1 & 2 (1977): Probes sent to explore the outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune).
• Space Shuttle: Developed as a reusable spacecraft, with its first test flight planned for 1980.

The section also touches upon the possibility of receiving signals from other civilizations and the future potential of space-based solar power satellites.

UFO Sightings Across Sweden

Several other UFO sightings are reported:

• Gnosjö (March 16): Sigvard Johansson and his wife Barbro observed a strange object with a sharp, horizontal outline, approximately 200-300 meters up. It had blinking lights and a steady red glow. The object remained stationary for a while before moving.
• Värnamo (March 15): Karin Bergström reported a similar object that blinked yellow and red, remained stationary for about ten minutes, and then faded away.
• Smålandsstenar (April 4): The Sandblad family observed four unknown objects that performed a maneuver, including a giration, before disappearing into the evening sky. They also saw two mysterious lights that moved towards each other, blinked, and then vanished. The objects were described as metallic grey with a lighter center.
• Filipstad (March 22): Former police officer Nils Frankén reported seeing an elongated, 'timber-trailer'-like light phenomenon moving across the sky. He estimated its size to be about eight meters long and 75-80 centimeters high, with a bright red glow from its windows. The object passed silently.
• Västerås (around March 22): Reports of similar phenomena were noted.
• Bastuträsk (March 3): Magnus Larsson and three other passengers in a car observed a luminous, bluish object that appeared to grow larger as it moved southwest. The object was partially obscured by trees and was seen for about three minutes before disappearing. Later, they saw the object again, with its edges appearing less distinct.
• Nordsverige (March 4): Anna Olsson and Camilla Åkerström reported seeing a cigar-shaped object about 75 meters above them. It emitted a blue-yellow-green light and had a blinking red lamp at the rear. The object disappeared in a northwesterly direction.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently features witness accounts of UFO sightings, often emphasizing the unusual characteristics and movements of the observed objects. There's a recurring theme of seeking explanations and understanding the nature of these phenomena. The editorial stance, as expressed by Carl-Axel Jonzon, leans towards a more proactive approach for the UFO movement, advocating for official recognition and potentially exploring the spiritual or philosophical dimensions of the phenomenon. The magazine also serves as a historical record of space exploration, highlighting human achievements in venturing beyond Earth.

This issue of UFO-Information, dated 1978 and identified as Volume 3, Issue 4, focuses on a significant wave of UFO sightings that occurred over Germany and Sweden, with the cover headline proclaiming 'Tefaten vände över Tyskland' (The Saucers Turned Over Germany).

Tefaten vände över Tyskland (The Saucers Turned Over Germany)

The lead article details numerous reports from Skåne, Sweden, describing a large, round object with a strong red color and a tail that shifted between yellow and green. The sightings began around 6:30 PM, as dusk turned to night. The object was described as triangular and white, with a rainbow-colored tail, moving at high speed. Meteorologassistent Dressel at Bulltofta observed an elongated, white object moving rapidly from west to east. Observations also indicated that the objects turned over Germany, moving from east to west, while in Skåne they generally moved east. Some reports from the east coast of Sweden suggested a southwest direction.

Possible explanations discussed include robot weapons (V-weapons) from Russian bases in East Germany, or even objects from another planet. Major Sven Hedengren of the defense staff suggested that inhabitants of other planets might be exploring Earth, possibly using a 'television eye' on a spaceship. The article notes that Russians have V-weapon bases in Germany and the Baltics, with areas in Mecklenburg and Kristianstad-Ystad being potential target areas for test projectiles.

Lektor Erik Vanäs, a meteorologist, suggested meteors as the most likely explanation, but did not entirely rule out the possibility of remotely controlled objects. He found the idea of extraterrestrial beings unlikely. He pointed out that meteors are common at this time of year.

A table, 'TEFATETS TIDTABEL' (The Saucers' Timetable), lists numerous observations with observer names, locations, times, and descriptions of the objects' direction and color. Notable observers include Meteorologassistent Dressel, Flygkapt. Panchertz, Ingenjör Abelin, and Fältflygare Lennart Larsson.

Närkontakt med Västervik (Close Encounter in Västervik)

This section recounts an incident on the night of December 3-4, 1979, in Västervik, Sweden. Lilli-Ann Karlsson reported seeing a UFO with occupants. While walking, she became paralyzed and saw a craft hovering a meter above the ground. Two beings, approximately 180 cm tall and slender, emerged. Although she couldn't hear them, she felt they were discussing her. One being offered her something resembling a chocolate bar. They then returned to the craft, which emitted a faint trail of smoke before disappearing. Lilli-Ann returned home in a state of shock.

Her brother, who works for the local newspaper, advised her to contact the author, who was interested in UFOs. The author visited the site the next day to look for traces and take photos. The area was a park. The beings were described as about 170 cm tall, with yellowish suits and boots. They moved stiffly, as if 'dazed'. The boys described the craft as square-shaped with large yellow lights at the corners, a smaller dome on top, and a red light underneath. A red beam was emitted towards the ground but stopped short of touching it.

Mystisk brand i Holmestad: Norden brann (Mysterious Fire in Holmestad: Norden Burned)

This article investigates a mysterious fire that occurred on May 7, 1978, on a sown field belonging to Anders Karlsson in Bölseboda, near Götene, Sweden. The fire left an elliptical pattern measuring 200 x 38 meters. The soil within the ellipse showed cracks and depressions, and its pH value was significantly lower than the surrounding soil. The farmer reported that something had come from above, and that the field had been sown only two days prior, meaning there was no vegetation yet.

Fredrik Karlsson, who investigated the incident, compared the depressions to those left by fire trucks, finding the former much deeper. Soil samples from the ellipse showed that seeds germinated poorly and molded, while seeds from outside the ellipse grew normally. The farmer later plowed over the area, preventing further investigation.

The article speculates whether the fire was related to UFO activity, posing questions about whether it was an accident or a deliberate act.

Forntidens domedagsvapen och vimaanafarkoster (Ancient Doomsday Weapons and Vimana Aircraft)

This is the first part of a series by Riksdagsman Anders Gernandt, a former test pilot and rocket designer, who is notable for openly addressing the UFO issue as a politician. The article draws on ancient Indian texts, such as the Mahabharata and Rigveda, to suggest that ancient civilizations possessed highly advanced technology, including flying machines (Vimanas) and powerful weapons.

Gernandt discusses ancient texts that describe 'flaming projectiles' capable of causing widespread destruction, darkness, and burning. He compares these to modern nuclear weapons, noting that the descriptions of radioactive effects align with contemporary understanding. He also mentions 'Agniastra' (fire weapons) and 'Indra's arrow' (a lightning-like projectile).

The article also explores the concept of 'Brahma-vapnet' (Brahma weapon), described as a beam weapon that could be activated by a circular reflector mechanism. It could cause widespread disruption in nature, including winds, boiling water, and animal panic. The text suggests that this weapon might have operated on a vibration principle, similar to modern radar countermeasures.

Further sections discuss 'esoteric and psychic energy', suggesting that ancient Aryans understood various forms of energy, including electricity and a yet-undiscovered 'esoteric energy'. The article touches upon parapsychological phenomena like levitation and teleportation, noting their increasing acceptance in scientific circles.

It also details various ancient 'projectile weapons' mentioned in texts, including Sikarhastra (fire-thrower), Avisjastra (causing mental confusion), Prasvapama (causing sleep), and Gantarvastra (destroyer weapon). The concept of 'Dödstrålar' (death rays) is also introduced.

Närkontakt i New Jersey (Close Encounter in New Jersey)

This report from International UFO Reporter (IUR) details an alleged close encounter of the third kind (CE-III) in Montvale, New Jersey, on January 31, 1978. Three young boys reported seeing a square-shaped object with yellow lights and a red beam. Shortly after, they encountered three beings. The boys described the beings as about 170 cm tall, wearing yellowish suits and boots, and moving stiffly. They also noted a strange silence and a sulfurous smell.

A female being later appeared, and part of her body seemed to disappear as she entered a building through a side wall. The report notes that the boys' ages (8-10) might affect the reliability of their testimony, but the detailed descriptions and the unusual disappearance of the female being are highlighted.

Bortom flygande tefaten (Beyond Flying Saucers)

This is a letter to the editor by Karl-Otto Hultström, who argues that the UFO debate has been too narrowly focused on the appearance of UFOs and their technical aspects. He believes UFOs exist and that the more important questions are: Who are they? What do they want? Why are they here? Or do they symbolize something we don't yet understand?

Hultström suggests that the UFO debate should shift towards these existential and symbolic questions to broaden its appeal beyond existing enthusiasts. He laments the stagnation of interest in UFOs, citing canceled discussion groups in southern Stockholm due to low attendance.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores UFO sightings, ancient technologies, and the possibility of extraterrestrial contact. There is a clear leaning towards accepting the reality of UFO phenomena, with articles presenting witness testimonies and speculative theories. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, encouraging readers to consider unconventional explanations and delve deeper into the symbolic and existential aspects of the UFO phenomenon, as advocated in the 'Bortom flygande tefaten' section. The magazine also engages with historical and mythological accounts to support theories of advanced ancient civilizations and extraterrestrial influence.

This issue of UFO-Information features a prominent article detailing a close encounter with a UFO over Los Angeles, as reported by experienced pilot Floyd Hallström. The magazine also includes a special anniversary offer for a compilation of past UFO-Information articles.

UFO Over Los Angeles: A Pilot's Close Encounter

The main article recounts the experience of Floyd Hallström, a retired Air Force crew chief and private pilot with 37 years of flying experience. On January 1, 1978, at 13:07, while flying a Cessna 170 A from Oxnard towards San Diego with another pilot, Jim Victor, Hallström observed a metallic object.

Hallström was flying at an altitude of 2250 meters over Santa Monica when he saw a "dot" emerge from the haze. Initially mistaking it for his fellow pilot Jim Victor in a Mustang II, Hallström soon realized the object was much larger and approaching rapidly. He described the object as a "flying saucer" with a rounded top, silver in color, resembling nickel or polished steel/chrome, and featuring windows.

He noted that the craft had no wings, horizontal tail, or rotor, ruling out conventional aircraft and helicopters. The object moved at a high speed, estimated later to be around 1000 km/h, and passed approximately 300 meters below Hallström's aircraft. He estimated its altitude at 1825 meters and the distance between them at about one kilometer when it was at its closest point.

Hallström observed the craft's complete circular perimeter and clearly saw its dome and windows. He estimated there were four to five visible windows on the dome and between 16 to 20 windows around the entire circumference. The windows were slightly above the bottom of the craft, which appeared flat. The craft did not vibrate, roll, or yaw, and showed no signs of propulsion or discharge. The sunlight reflected off the clear, highly polished metal.

The observation lasted for about a minute. The craft then moved away in a straight line over Hollywood Hills, towards Burbank and Van Nuys airports. Hallström drew two sketches of the craft and made notes about its lines, altitude, position, and dimensions.

After the encounter, Hallström attempted to report the incident. He contacted Jim Victor, who initially joked about it, thinking it was his Mustang II. Hallström then tried to contact LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) air traffic control but was unable to connect. He contacted Ontario air traffic control, who advised him to contact LAX. He then tried to contact the FAA at Browns Field in San Diego. After several attempts and transfers, he was eventually instructed to report the incident to the FAA station at Oxnard Field, his home base.

Upon contacting the FAA at Oxnard, he was informed that they no longer accepted UFO reports. However, they were cooperative and suggested he contact the Point Mugu naval air station. He also contacted ABC news in Los Angeles, but they were uninterested unless he could provide proof.

Hallström recorded a detailed account of his experience and his feelings about it, noting that the event had significantly affected his emotions, work, and home life, causing him to lose sleep. He also included a detailed description of his extensive flying background, spanning 37 years, to establish his credibility.

He received a letter from Senator Barry Goldwater, who acknowledged his pilot experience and promised to forward the letter to Secretary Brown and relevant committees.

The article also mentions a similar UFO report from a ground observer in Downey, California, who claimed to have seen a UFO matching Hallström's description on January 1, 1978, just ten minutes after Hallström's observation. The magazine notes that UFO skeptics often attribute such sightings to pilot hallucination, weather balloons, or misinterpretations.

Hallström remains firm in his account and has volunteered for a polygraph test and hypnosis to support his testimony.

Anniversary Offer

The magazine concludes with an advertisement for a special "Jubilee Edition" of UFO-Information. This edition, priced at 35 kronor, contains highlights from the past ten years of Swedish UFO articles and includes a new, previously unpublished account of a close encounter of the third kind with a humanoid in Sweden. The offer is presented as a final chance to acquire these classic UFO case descriptions, with proceeds potentially helping to fund a new printing press.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue strongly emphasizes the credibility of eyewitness testimony, particularly from experienced pilots like Floyd Hallström. It highlights the challenges faced by individuals attempting to report UFO sightings to official channels and the skepticism they often encounter. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation into UFO phenomena, presenting detailed accounts and encouraging readers to consider the evidence. The anniversary offer suggests a long-standing commitment to documenting and disseminating UFO-related information.