UFO Mail - No 086 - 2007

Magazine Overview

Title: Skandinavisk UFO Information
Issue: 86
Date: May 2, 2007
Publisher: Danmarks UFO Forening

This issue of Skandinavisk UFO Information, dated May 2, 2007, features a prominent headline announcing that the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) is opening its UFO archives to the public. The magazine delves into this significant development, alongside a report on a recent pilot sighting near Alderney.

Det britiske Forsvarsministerium åbner sine ufo-arkiver! (The British Ministry of Defence Opens Its UFO Archives!)

This lead article, authored by Ole Henningsen, details the MoD's decision to release approximately 7,000 UFO reports that cover a 30-year period. The information comes from Dr. David Clarke, a Ph.D. in folkloristics and lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University, who has been instrumental in this effort. Clarke states that the decision is a direct result of his and his colleagues' persistent attempts to persuade the MoD to follow the example set by France in opening its archives.

Dr. Clarke explains that the release will involve 24 specific files from the DI55-UFO archive, which were previously thought to be lost due to asbestos contamination in the basement of "The Old War Office" in London. These files, along with 63,000 other documents, were at risk of destruction. However, after 18 months of work and an expenditure of 3 million pounds, the entire archive has been salvaged. Selected files will be scanned and made available through The National Archives and the MoD's "Freedom Of Information Act" website. The DI55-UFO archive has been prioritized for immediate release due to high public interest.

The MoD's letter dated March 26, 2007, to David Clarke confirms that these 24 files will be recovered, scanned, and made accessible via the MoD's FOI website. It is estimated that it will take several weeks before the documents are placed on the publication schedule.

Dr. Clarke further elaborates that the 24 files contain about 7,000 reports, plus analyses and correspondence. He anticipates that it will take considerable time to make the entire archive available online. Based on a preview of the 1979 files, he assures readers that the wait will be worthwhile, as the material includes reports from pilots and other crew members that were never officially logged by the MoD's public "UFO Desk." The archive also includes all 3,000 reports received by the MoD between 1987 and 1997.

Clarke views this decision as a significant breakthrough for British ufology and the broader "Freedom of Information Act" campaign in Britain. He notes that this marks the end of his personal 10-year campaign to have the MoD release all its UFO reports. He acknowledges the crucial help he received from associates like Gary Anthony, Joe McGonagle, Chris Fowler, Andy Roberts, and media contacts such as James Randerson, The Guardian's science correspondent.

Opdagede hemmelig rapport (Discovered Secret Report)

This section details the discovery of a report codenamed CONDIGN. In January 2005, David Clarke found references to this investigation. By September, he and colleague Gary Anthony had submitted requests for its release under the British Freedom of Information Act. In the spring of 2006, the British authorities, amidst significant media attention, declassified and released this previously secret report concerning UFO phenomena.

Hvad med Danmark? (What About Denmark?)

The article contrasts the UK's transparency with the situation in Denmark. The Danish newspaper "Nyhedsavisen" reported on April 17 that Denmark is "a country without X-files." According to journalist Per Thiemann, several Danish authorities denied any knowledge of existing UFO archives in Denmark.

Ny pilotobservation (New Pilot Observation)

Authored by Flemming Jensen, this section reports on a UFO sighting by Captain Ray Bowyer, a pilot with 20 years of experience and thousands of flight hours. Bowyer recounted his observation to the BBC, describing it as something he had "never seen anything like it" and hoped not to see again. The sighting involved two large, stationary objects near the island of Guernsey on Monday, April 23, 2007.

Bowyer described the objects as "clear as the sun but did not hurt the eyes." He characterized the object as elongated and thin with pointed ends, featuring a dark area in the middle. One end was a sharp yellow, and the other was a golden yellow. These stationary objects were also observed by another aircraft flying from the Isle of Man to Guernsey. Radar in Jersey detected activity but could not confirm UFO presence.

Initially, Bowyer estimated the objects' size to be comparable to two Boeing 737s. However, after plotting their position on a map and estimating the distance to be about 40 to 50 miles, he revised his estimate to "at least a mile in length."

Nick Pope's Commentary

Nick Pope, a former investigator of UFO cases for the British Ministry of Defence, commented on this new pilot observation. He stated, "No witnesses are infallible, but pilots are trained observers and will hardly misinterpret quite ordinary phenomena." Pope is scheduled to be a speaker at the SUFOIS 50th-anniversary event in the autumn.

The pilot observation has garnered significant attention online and in international media. Bowyer is reportedly receiving numerous inquiries from media outlets worldwide. The article suggests that the observation warrants in-depth investigation by serious researchers.

A link is provided for readers to view an interview with Captain Ray Bowyer on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQLNbIZNDEA

The article also includes a clipping from "NEWS" titled "Pilots spot mile-wide UFO close to Alderney," which corroborates the report with details from air traffic control and Captain Bowyer's log entry.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the increasing transparency of government UFO archives and the reporting of credible UFO sightings by experienced observers like pilots. The magazine's stance appears to be in favor of open access to information regarding UFO phenomena and the serious investigation of such sightings. The comparison with Denmark's lack of transparency highlights the magazine's advocacy for openness in this field. The publication actively promotes sharing UFO information among its readers, encouraging them to forward the newsletter to family and friends.