UFO Information - 1987 No 01

Magazine Overview

This issue of UFO Information, identified as Nr. 1, 1987, and part of Årgång 18, is a Swedish-language periodical dedicated to UFO events and knowledge. The cover features a striking graphic with the title 'UFO INFORMATION' and imagery of lightning and a UFO. The magazine is published by UFO-Information and has an ISSN of 0346-3540. The subscription price for a full year is 100 SEK.

Editorial and Publisher Information

The editorial team includes Editor-in-Chief and Publisher Kjell Thörnlund, along with contributors Sören Andersson, Ronny Thunér, Håkan Gustafsson, and Kristina Finér. The publication is based in Linköping, Sweden. UFO Information is published irregularly, with 6 issues per year, and is run by volunteers, meaning all work is unpaid. The magazine is seeking skilled illustrators and translators for English, French, and Spanish texts, as well as contacts interested in investigating UFO cases locally. Readers are encouraged to submit articles, discussion pieces, and tips about UFO sightings.

Financial Challenges and Reader Appeal

A prominent section addresses the publication's financial struggles, attributed to a decrease in subscribers. To continue publication, the magazine has reduced its frequency from 6 to 4 issues per year but increased the number of pages per issue and introduced color covers. The editorial team has also worked to reduce expenses by 40-50%. They appeal to members and subscribers to help by encouraging new readers, distributing magazines, and offering financial contributions. The editorial stance emphasizes a commitment to continuing the publication despite these challenges.

Feature Article: The New Zealand UFO Films

The main feature delves into the New Zealand UFO films, stemming from a radar-visual event on New Year's Eve 1978, shortly after the disappearance of pilot Fred Valentich. The New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) prepared to scramble Skyhawk fighter-bombers. The original film was brought to the U.S. for analysis by UFO researcher Dr. Bruce Maccabee, who subsequently visited New Zealand to interview witnesses and the RNZAF officer leading the official investigation. The official conclusion cited "unusual atmospheric conditions," which Maccabee found unsatisfactory as the investigation had not thoroughly examined the film.

The December 21st Sighting

The article highlights a preceding UFO sighting on December 21st, which prompted the TV crew to be in the area. Two Argosy cargo planes, SAFE AIR, LTD., were involved. Captain John Randle and co-pilot Keith Heine reported a bright, intense white light that was too strong to be an aircraft's spotlight. Simultaneously, Wellington air traffic controllers were alerted to unusual radar contacts. Five targets were tracked moving erratically. The RNZAF confirmed no weather balloons were launched, and their radar could not explain the signals.

Argosy 2 Encounter

Argosy 2, with Captain Vern Powell and co-pilot Ian Pirie, also encountered unidentified radar echoes. While climbing, they were asked to investigate a radar contact. Co-pilot Pirie observed a bright white light with intermittent red shifts. The light appeared to be moving with the Argosy plane, maintaining a consistent relative position. Powell described the light as unusual, unlike any star or planet he had seen. The object was tracked for 10-12 minutes before disappearing. Later, as Argosy 2 approached Christchurch, its weather radar detected a fast-moving signal near Banks Peninsula, described as a clear, flashing white light moving at high speed.

Argosy 1 and Multiple Lights

Captain Randle's Argosy 1, en route to Auckland, observed five objects described as white/amber lights, significantly brighter than landing lights, reflecting on the water. These objects passed 16 km south of the plane at an estimated altitude of 150 meters. The plane circled them before continuing north. The radar detected three objects that appeared to be vessels, which the crew also visually confirmed, noting their large size (1,000 tons) and presence in potentially hazardous waters.

Film Analysis by Dr. Maccabee

Dr. Maccabee's analysis of the filmed UFO lights focused on their luminosity and size. He estimated the lower limit of the light sources' intensity to be 260,000 candelas, comparable to a powerful lamp or the full moon near the horizon. Based on the angular width of the light trails and the radar-determined distance, he estimated the object's size to be approximately 12x18 meters. The prolonged observation time (over 12 minutes) made unusual meteorological phenomena like reflections or ball lightning unlikely explanations.

Photographic Data and Alternative Explanations

The issue includes details about the photographic equipment used (Bolex H16 camera) and film types. The analysis of the film revealed various shapes and light characteristics, including elliptical forms with reddish dust, and triangular shapes. The film also captured anomalous lights outside Kaikoura and the landing at Christchurch. The article discusses and refutes several alternative explanations for the phenomena, including Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, and conventional aircraft, citing discrepancies in timing, location, and visual characteristics.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue strongly emphasizes detailed, scientific investigation of UFO phenomena, particularly through radar data and photographic analysis. The article on the New Zealand case highlights the importance of witness testimony, expert analysis (like Dr. Maccabee's), and the critical examination of official explanations. The magazine's editorial stance is one of persistence and dedication to understanding the UFO phenomenon, despite financial hurdles and the need to appeal for reader support. The commitment to providing in-depth coverage of UFO events is evident throughout the issue.

This issue of UFO-Information, Volume 4, Number 1, dated July 1979, is published by AFU in Sweden. The cover prominently features the headline "UFOs och stympningar av boskapsdjur" (UFOs and mutilations of livestock), along with reports on an Austrian police observation and a large UFO image. The magazine is primarily in Swedish, with translations provided for some articles.

Analysis of Anomalous Phenomena

The issue begins by dissecting various proposed explanations for the Argosy plane incident. These include meteors, city lights, reflections from fishing fleets, ball lightning, and even outright hoaxes. The article critically examines each theory, often finding them improbable due to duration, intensity, or lack of corroborating evidence.

Radar Observations

A significant portion of the analysis focuses on radar observations, particularly concerning the Wellington radar's MTI (Moving Target Indication) system. The article explores how anomalous targets might appear on radar, including those that appear stationary. Explanations such as "dielectric discontinuities" in clear air due to turbulence, and the bending of radar beams by atmospheric conditions are discussed. The possibility of artificial increases in target distance due to atmospheric refraction is also considered, with calculations suggesting extreme speeds would be required for such a phenomenon to occur naturally.

Key Articles and Reports

The Argosy Incident and Radar Explanations

The article delves into the radar observations related to the Argosy incident, suggesting that explanations must account for both visual and radar data. It discusses the MTI system's limitations and how stationary or slow-moving objects might be filtered out or misinterpreted. The concept of atmospheric refraction is explored in detail, with calculations indicating that a region of air causing significant refraction would need to move at speeds exceeding Mach 1 to explain the observed phenomena.

Epilogue: The January 3rd Film

This section recounts the story of an Australian TV crew filming what they believed to be a UFO. The footage was later analyzed, and with input from experts like Dr. J. Allen Hynek, it was identified as the planet Venus. The report notes that while the object appeared large on TV, its apparent size was only three times that of a star. The movement observed through a telephoto lens was consistent with Venus rising in the southern hemisphere.

Brazilian Rancher Abducted by UFO

This article details the alleged abduction of Antonio Nelso Tasca, a rancher from Chapecó, Brazil, on December 14, 1983. Tasca reported being compelled to stop his vehicle by an unknown impulse. He then encountered a bus-shaped object with internal lights. Upon approaching, he realized it was a circular craft emitting white light. He was drawn into the craft and later found himself in a room with luminous walls. He was examined by small beings and then communicated with an alien named Cabalá, who delivered a message of warning to humanity. Tasca was returned to Earth with unexplained marks on his back, described as a 'W' and an exclamation mark.

#### Cabalá's Message and Warning

Cabalá's message, relayed through Tasca, urged the immediate deactivation of all weapons of mass destruction, the abolition of political and economic dominance of one nation over another, and the preservation of human life and its reproductive functions. The message also spoke of the origin of life from the "Eternal Spirit's Breath" and warned against genetic catastrophes resulting from uncontrolled experimentation. It predicted the return of the "Ultimate Wisdom Masters" and the establishment of a "Jordiska Paradiset" (Earthly Paradise).

UFOs and Cattle Mutilations in South Dakota

This report details a series of UFO sightings and mysterious cattle mutilations that occurred in South Dakota between February 8 and March 6, 1984. Ranchers and police officers observed strange, bright lights exhibiting unusual movement patterns. These sightings coincided with the discovery of several cows that had been surgically mutilated, with their eyes, ears, and udders removed. The mutilations were described as precise and surgical, with no signs of struggle or conventional animal predators.

Austrian Police Observation

On February 27, 1977, two Austrian police officers observed a large, disc-shaped object in the sky near Vienna. The object, described as having a cut-off lower section, changed shape from round to wedge-like and then disappeared. The officers, initially anonymous, expressed their bewilderment and stated they could not explain what they had seen.

Two UFO Models: Melton, Australia

This article describes an incident on July 22, 1983, in Melton, Australia, where nine police officers witnessed two distinct UFOs. The first object was a bright light, and the second was a metallic grey, boat-like craft approximately 9 meters long and 6 meters wide. It had white lights and a blinking red light, and emitted a low humming sound. The objects exhibited unusual flight patterns, hovering and moving at low altitudes.

Disc-Shaped Craft with Dome: Cotile Lake, Louisiana

Dale Schexnaider and his family reported witnessing a disc-shaped craft with a dome-like upper section near Cotile Lake, Louisiana. The craft, estimated to be 23 meters in diameter and 15 meters high, emitted bright lights and beams of blue light. The witnesses described feeling a "force field" and difficulty moving, likening it to being in a dream. The object then ascended and disappeared.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of UFO-Information presents a consistent focus on unexplained aerial phenomena, alien encounters, and the mysterious circumstances surrounding cattle mutilations. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation into these phenomena, presenting witness accounts and expert analyses while also exploring potential explanations, both conventional and unconventional. The inclusion of a translated message from an alien entity suggests an openness to extraterrestrial contact and a belief in the importance of conveying such messages to the public. The magazine aims to inform its readers about ongoing UFO research and significant cases from around the world.