UFO Mail - No 075 - 2006

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO-Mail nr. 75
Issue Date: October 2, 2006
Publisher: Danmarks UFO Forening
Content: This issue of UFO-Mail focuses on the release of a secret British Ministry of Defence report on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), titled 'CONDIGN'. It also includes personal accounts of sightings and discussions on related topics.

Hemmelig britisk rapport offentliggjort (Secret British report published)

This main article by Ole Henningsen details the declassification of a 460-page report by the British Ministry of Defence, which concluded that there is no evidence of intelligent alien life visiting Earth in spacecraft. The report, compiled by the Defence Intelligence Analysis Staff (DI55) between 1996 and 2000 under the codename CONDIGN, was made public due to a Freedom of Information Act request by Dr. David Clarke from Sheffield University. The report states that while UAP phenomena exist, they are not considered hostile or a threat, and there's no evidence of fixed objects posing a collision risk. The report's findings were initially classified 'UK eyes only' and only 11 copies were made, with even ministers not having access.

The article highlights that the British government had long denied investigating UFO phenomena, contrary to the truth. Winston Churchill had inquired about 'flying saucers' in 1952, prompting an initial investigation. The CONDIGN report's analysis suggests that UAP sightings can be attributed to misidentification of common aircraft, known natural phenomena, rare atmospheric events (like sprites and blue jets), and possibly meteors or plasma formations. The report emphasizes that UAP phenomena are not linked to any single state and are not considered hostile. It also notes that while UAP might appear 'friendly' to civilian air traffic, pilots are advised not to attempt to outmaneuver them.

Dr. David Clarke, a journalism lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University, is credited with unearthing the report through persistent research into declassified UFO documents. The report itself, titled 'Unidentified Aerial Phenomena in the UK Air Defence Region: Executive Summary. Scientific & Technical Memorandum - No. 55/2/00', was officially prepared by the Defence Intelligence Analysis Staff (DI55).

The article also touches upon the report's structure, including its technical information, descriptions of natural and man-made phenomena, and its review of official UFO investigations in other countries, particularly the former Soviet Union. It notes that the report did not exchange intelligence with the USA regarding UFOs. The article mentions that many responsible organizations distance themselves from extreme viewpoints often promoted by the media and the UFO publication industry, with over 31 popular books on the subject published in the year leading up to the report's release.

Some lines and passages in the CONDIGN report were censored before publication, citing reasons such as potential harm to defence, relations with foreign states, or personal information.

Ikke besøg udefra (Not an extraterrestrial visit)

This section summarizes the report's main conclusions, reiterating that there is no evidence of hostile intelligent UAP. It also states that there is no proof of fixed objects posing a collision risk, although future collisions with aircraft are not entirely ruled out. The article mentions that attempts to pursue unexplained objects that change position rapidly have led to fatal accidents in other countries, but no such incidents have occurred in UK airspace.

Anbefalinger (Recommendations)

The report recommends that DI55 no longer needs to deal with UAP reports, as they do not contain information of value to the Defence Intelligence Service. It also advises against attempting to outmaneuver UAPs during potential pursuits, suggesting pilots should fly away from them if possible. The report highlights the surprising finding that plasma and magnetic fields play a role in UAP phenomena and recommends further research into their application for new military initiatives.

Sort trekant på himlen (Black triangle in the sky)

This section features a personal account by Ole Henningsen describing an observation near Svogerslev Sø, Denmark. He describes seeing a slow-moving, silent object with three white lights and a blinking red light in the middle. Initially thought to be a plane, it later appeared to change speed and direction. The object disappeared instantly with a 'pling' sound. Henningsen also recounts a similar observation later that evening over a lake, describing an object that moved in fast, straight lines and then disappeared. He expresses his conviction that these were not birds or satellites and seeks an explanation.

Simon Hesselager Johansen, an 18-year-old student, also reported an observation of what appeared to be a conventional aircraft with typical navigation lights, possibly in a holding pattern near Kastrup Airport. Toke Haunstrup from SUFOI's Report Work agrees with Simon's assessment that such observations could explain 'black triangle' sightings. Hans Bødker, a former fighter pilot, also comments that it resembles a typical aircraft observation, especially considering potential holding patterns near the airport during peak hours.

Landende fly fotograferet af SUFOIs fotokonsulent Hans Bødker (Landing aircraft photographed by SUFOI's photo consultant Hans Bødker)

This section includes a photograph of what appears to be a landing aircraft, attributed to Hans Bødker. It also references articles about 'triangular objects' and the British defense report.

Ældre beretning fra Viborg en lørdag i november 2005 (Older report from Viborg on a Saturday in November 2005)

This is a personal account from a couple who observed a strange, luminous, white object over Søndersø in Viborg. They describe it as circular with jagged edges resembling triangles, changing speed, and disappearing instantly. They note its unusual movement and apparent altitude.

Atlantis og ISS (Atlantis and ISS)

This brief section mentions the perfect landing of the space shuttle Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center on September 21st, after a nerve-wracking time in space.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the analysis and discussion of official government reports on UFO phenomena, particularly the declassified British CONDIGN report. The magazine appears to take a critical yet open-minded stance, presenting the findings of official investigations while also sharing personal sighting accounts. There's an emphasis on rational explanations for UAP, such as misidentification and natural phenomena, but also an acknowledgment of the persistent mystery surrounding some observations. The editorial stance seems to favor rigorous research and the application of scientific principles to understand these phenomena, as evidenced by the focus on Dr. David Clarke's work and the recommendations for further research into plasma physics.

Title: UFO-Mail
Issue: 75
Date: 2006
Publisher: SUFOI (Skandinavisk UFO Information)
Country: Denmark
Language: Danish

This issue of UFO-Mail focuses on recent events and discoveries related to space and potential extraterrestrial phenomena, featuring reports on unidentified objects observed during a space mission and new high-resolution images of the 'Face on Mars'.

Unidentified Objects Near Atlantis Space Shuttle

The magazine reports on a successful mission to the International Space Station (ISS) where astronauts conducted spacewalks and important assembly work. However, the mission was marked by astronaut reports of several small objects floating near the Atlantis space shuttle. These observations caused concern among the American space authorities, who worried that damage might have occurred to the shuttle's heat shield during launch, with fragments breaking off.

While many theories have been proposed, the prevailing speculation is that these objects were pieces of ice, plastic, or material used for filling gaps between the heat shield tiles. The issue includes a still image from a video recording showing a bright circle with a small object in the center, which is identified as one of the objects that caused concern.

Astrophotography: ISS Against the Sun

This section highlights an unusual astronomical photograph taken by French astrophotographer Thierry Legault. He managed to capture an image of the ISS, with its seven crew members, in silhouette against the Sun. Legault meticulously studied the ISS's orbit to select the precise geographical position and time for this unique shot. The article provides links to further information on Legault's work and astronomical resources.

The 'Face on Mars' Revisited

The issue delves into the geological formation known as the 'Face on Mars' located in the Cydonia region. It states that ESA's Mars Express spacecraft has successfully captured new, detailed images of this structure. The article clarifies that the 'Face on Mars' is a natural geological formation, and the illusion of a face is created by the specific angle at which the Sun's rays illuminate the structure. Despite its natural origin, the formation has long fueled speculation about intelligent life beyond Earth since its discovery by the American Viking 1 spacecraft in July 1976.

Several attempts by Mars Express to obtain clear images were hampered by unfavorable weather conditions, including dust in the Martian atmosphere. However, on July 22nd, the efforts were successful. Dr. Agustin Chicarro, a scientific collaborator on the ESA Mars Express project, describes the new images as "truly unique," providing a fresh and detailed portrait of an area famous among fans of space myths and of great interest to geologists.

The region of Cydonia is described as being in the border area between the southern mountainous region and the northern plains of Mars, characterized by large valleys filled with geological material and scattered elevated areas of various forms and sizes. The article includes a link to an ESA article with more images and another link to read about the history of the Mars 'Face' since 1976.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of UFO-Mail continues its focus on unexplained phenomena and astronomical curiosities. The editorial stance appears to be one of presenting intriguing reports and scientific findings, encouraging readers to explore further. The magazine promotes itself as a source of "exciting information and interesting reading" and encourages readers to share the newsletter with others. The content balances reports on potential UFO sightings in space with detailed scientific explanations of astronomical phenomena, such as the 'Face on Mars', emphasizing a commitment to both the unexplained and the scientifically verifiable.