UFO Mail - No 074 - 2006

Magazine Overview

Title: Skandinavisk UFO Information
Issue: UFO-Mail nr. 74
Date: 29. august 2006
Publisher: Danmarks UFO Forening

This issue of Skandinavisk UFO Information, UFO-Mail nr. 74, dated August 29, 2006, focuses on UFO sightings and related phenomena. It includes a prominent article featuring actor Lars Bom's personal account of seeing a UFO, alongside other reader submissions and investigative pieces.

Skuespilleren Lars Bom: Jeg har set en ufo!

This main article, written by Ole Henningsen, details an encounter experienced by Danish actor Lars Bom during his youth. Bom recounts that in the summer of 1978, while on holiday with friends on the island of Menorca, they witnessed a luminous, golden sphere over the sea near Cala Macarella beach. He describes the object as being the size of a medium to large beach ball, moving slowly (approximately 7-8 km/h) about 20 meters above the water, from west to east. The observation lasted about 30 seconds to a minute. Bom states that the experience left a strong impression on him, convincing him that there is 'more between heaven and earth'. He shares this story because he finds it interesting and mysterious, even though he doesn't typically pursue the unusual.

Afterword by Ole Henningsen

Ole Henningsen provides an afterword, explaining how he came across Lars Bom's UFO claim. He mentions that Bom made a similar declaration at the start of a TV program called 'Naturbilleder' (Nature Pictures) on November 30, 1997. Henningsen had previously seen references to Bom's observation but lacked details. He investigated potential correlations with other sightings from Mallorca and Tenerife in his archives. While Bom's initial description of a light sphere didn't perfectly match footage from Mallorca and Tenerife, Henningsen notes that the latter phenomena might be related to missile launches. He concludes that without other similar reports, Bom's Menorca experience remains officially classified as a UFO sighting.

Hvad fløj over København?

Written by Ole Henningsen, this section details a sighting by a 48-year-old man named Lars (no relation to the actor) on August 11, 2006, from his balcony in Østerbro, Copenhagen. The observer described a dimly lit, indistinct object, appearing like a ghost on film, with a faint, diffuse light. It moved from the direction of Jagtvej/Fælledparken towards Kildevældsparken at a slow pace, estimated at 2-3 km/h or less, descending slightly. The object stopped almost directly overhead before continuing its path, descending further. Its estimated altitude was 8-12 meters, with a size/shape described as sausage-shaped or cocoon-shaped, about 1 meter long and 50-75 cm wide. The color was a faint red-orange and whitish. The observer managed to take several photos with a Canon 20D camera using a 190mm zoom. The photos, taken with a 2.5-second exposure, show a blurred tail due to the object's movement. The SUFOI photo consultants suggested that the most plausible explanation for this sighting was a helium-filled Mylar balloon losing air, appearing unusually translucent in the moonlight, and its movement consistent with meteorological data.

Læseroplevelse fra Færøerne og Sverige

This section compiles two reader accounts.

Faroe Islands Sighting

A reader shares a story from the late 1950s about a bus driver who, while driving friends on the Faroe Islands, stopped to observe two strange, copper-colored UFOs flying along the coast near the sea. The objects were observed for a duration that allowed the passengers to get out of the bus and watch them. The objects then departed at high speed towards the open sea. The witness states that at the time, discussing UFOs was not common and could lead to being considered 'crazy', but the experience was undeniably unusual.

Swedish Sighting

The same reader, who previously lived in Sweden for 20 years, recounts an experience from Småland. Together with two others, they observed a sphere, about the size of a football, moving in a straight line. It then made a 90-degree turn and disappeared. This sighting occurred in the late summer of 1980. The reader also mentions a meteor explosion in the same town that year, which caused widespread damage and left a large smoke plume visible in the sky.

The author notes that only the Swedish incident is personally witnessed and verifiable by them. The editorial team acknowledges that checking details for Danish and Swedish reports is difficult without more specific information.

Rød regn over Kerala

Authored by Peder Schultz, this article discusses an unusual meteor event in Kerala, India, on July 25, 2001. A meteor entered the atmosphere and exploded over Changanassery, causing a flash and a shockwave. Hours later, rain fell, containing drops of various colors, including red, yellow, green, and black, leading to the phenomenon being called 'blood rain'. This event is linked to the Panspermia theory, questioning whether extraterrestrial life could have been brought to Earth. The 'red rain' continued for about two months before ceasing. The article also references historical accounts from Olaus Magnus's 'Historia de gentibus' (1555) describing similar phenomena of animals falling as rain.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are personal UFO sightings, unexplained aerial phenomena, and the investigation of such events. The magazine aims to document and share these experiences, encouraging readers to contribute their own accounts. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, presenting evidence and witness testimonies while also exploring potential scientific explanations, such as the Mylar balloon theory for the Copenhagen sighting. The publication acts as a platform for UFO enthusiasts and researchers, fostering discussion and the collection of data within the Danish and Scandinavian UFO community.

This issue of UFO-Nyt (Issue 4, Volume 30, July/August 2006) delves into several intriguing and often controversial topics within the realm of ufology. The magazine critically examines scientific investigations, alleged government cover-ups, and historical UFO incidents, offering a skeptical yet thorough perspective.

The 'Red Rain' Phenomenon in Kerala

The issue begins by discussing the unusual 'red rain' that fell in Kerala, India, on July 25, 2001. Physicist Godfrey Louis and his assistant A. Santhosh Kumar from Mahatma Ghandi University investigated the phenomenon. They collected samples and analyzed red particles, approximately 4 to 10 micrometers in size, which appeared to be organic and bore a striking resemblance to living cells under an electron microscope. However, they lacked the DNA core found in terrestrial red blood cells. Louis and Kumar controversially concluded that these particles might represent a primitive form of extraterrestrial life that arrived on Earth via a meteor. This theory quickly generated diverse reactions, with some scientists dismissing it as nonsense and suggesting the particles were pollen or spores from the alga Trentepohlia. Others, like microbiologist M. Wainwright from the University of Sheffield, expressed intrigue, stating, "If they are not living cells, then I don't know what else they are." A third theory proposed that the cells were of terrestrial origin, ejected into space by a meteor impact in Earth's past and later returned.

The Palomar Gardens Café and George Adamski

Another section revisits the historical site of the Palomar Gardens Café on Palomar Mountain, California. George M. Eberhart from the Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS) found an old postcard of the café, which was owned by Alice K. Wells. This location was significant because George Adamski, a prominent contactee, used to set up his telescope there in the late 1940s and 1950s to photograph alleged UFOs. Adamski worked as a cook at the café and held court for admirers. The article notes that the café is long gone, but the site is now a campsite up for sale.

The MJ-12 Documents and Government Secrecy

The central focus of this issue is a critical examination of the purported MJ-12 (Majestic Twelve) documents, which claim to reveal a secret U.S. government group tasked with investigating and concealing UFO crash retrievals. Author Kim Møller Hansen questions the authenticity of these documents, particularly a memorandum allegedly signed by President Harry S. Truman. The article explains that the MJ-12 documents were likely created by photocopying a signature from a genuine document and pasting it onto a fabricated one. Ryan S. Wood and his father, Robert Wood, have dedicated themselves to proving the authenticity of these documents, which they believe detail the recovery and reverse-engineering of crashed alien technology. The first MJ-12 documents surfaced in the early 1980s via 35mm film rolls sent to producer Jaime Shandera and ufologist William J. Moore. The magazine highlights that the "Special Operations Manual SOM 1-01," dated April 1954, found in 1994, contains instructions for UFO crash recovery. However, the article points out inconsistencies, such as the manual's mention of satellite recovery before the first satellite was launched in 1957, and the reference to Area 51 before it was publicly known by that name. SUFOI, the publisher of UFO-Nyt, concludes that the MJ-12 documents are forgeries designed to legitimize the Roswell incident and satisfy a public desire to believe.

Critiques of Ryan S. Wood's Research

The magazine strongly criticizes Ryan S. Wood's approach in his book "Majic Eyes Only - Earth's Encounters With Extraterrestrial Technology." Wood assigns probability percentages to UFO crash cases based on a classification system. The article argues that Wood's methodology is flawed, subjective, and excludes "disturbing" facts. Three specific cases from Wood's book are analyzed to illustrate these criticisms:

New Mexico, USA, April 1962

This case, which Wood rates with 40-60% probability, is based on information from researcher Robert D. Barry. Barry claimed that a UFO was tracked by military radar, experienced severe flight problems, and crashed in the desert at approximately 150 km/h. The object was reportedly 21 meters in diameter and 4 meters high, containing two dead occupants about 1 meter tall, with grey skin, large heads, and small mouths. The article questions how such a thin, anecdotal report can be assigned a significant probability of truth.

Spitsbergen, Norway, 1952

Another case with a 40-60% probability rating in Wood's system involves the alleged discovery of a spaceship on Spitsbergen mountain. The article cites Ole Jonny Brænne's extensive research, which concluded the story was fabricated. While Wood acknowledges that many have dismissed the case as fraud, he speculates it might have been created by U.S. intelligence to obscure other UFO crash reports.

Aurora, Texas, April 1897

This is presented as the first crash report in Wood's book, given the highest credibility rating of 80-100%. The original story from the Dallas Morning News describes an airship crashing in Aurora, Texas, destroying a windmill and water tank. The pilot, presumed to be the sole occupant, was reportedly not from this world, possibly from Mars, and left behind papers with undecipherable writing. The craft was made of an unknown metal resembling aluminum and silver. However, investigator J. S. Proctor found no record of a judge named Proctor in Aurora, and T. J. Weems, identified as a representative of the U.S. Signal Service and an astronomy authority, was actually the town's blacksmith. Investigator Driskell concluded the story was a hoax created by S. E. Heydon to generate publicity for the town, which was bypassed by a new railway line. The article notes that the Aurora case contains all the elements of a modern UFO narrative: a crashed craft, a dead alien, mysterious metal, and eyewitnesses, making it a precursor to the Roswell incident.

Conclusion and Editorial Stance

The magazine concludes that the Aurora incident, like Roswell, appeals to fantasy and wishful thinking, and its reappearance in literature, including Ryan S. Wood's book, does not make it any more true. The article advises readers to save their money, as the book clearly exposes the obvious flaws in its arguments. The issue ends with a section on "News from the Sales Side," promoting a book titled "UFOs: A Century of Sightings," and an invitation for readers to share UFO information via email.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of UFO-Nyt adopts a critical and skeptical stance towards sensational UFO claims, particularly those involving alleged government cover-ups and extraterrestrial origins. The magazine prioritizes factual investigation and debunks sensationalized accounts, as seen in its detailed analysis of the MJ-12 documents and the Aurora, Texas incident. While acknowledging the public's fascination with UFOs, the editorial stance clearly favors evidence-based reasoning over speculation and myth-making. The recurring themes include the scientific investigation of anomalous phenomena (red rain), the critique of purported government secrets (MJ-12), and the historical analysis of classic UFO cases (Adamski, Aurora, Spitsbergen, New Mexico) with an emphasis on debunking or questioning their validity.