UFO Mail - No 091 - 2007

Magazine Overview

Title: Skandinavisk UFO Information
Issue: UFO-Mail nr. 91
Date: 16. august 2007
Publisher: Danmarks UFO Forening

This issue of Skandinavisk UFO Information, UFO-Mail no. 91, dated August 16, 2007, features the lead article from UFO-Nyt nr. 3, 2007, titled "Er vi blevet klogere?" (Have we become wiser?). The magazine explores the historical context of UFOlogy, the potential manipulation of public perception by governments, and the reliability of eyewitness accounts.

Er vi blevet klogere? (Have we become wiser?)

Author: Af Kim Møller Hansen

The lead article posits that humanity has a fundamental need to create order and narrative. Ufology, like other fields, seeks a timeline with significant events. The article identifies Kenneth Arnold's observation on June 24, 1947, as the starting point for the "modern UFO era." While the exact nature of Arnold's sighting (experimental aircraft, birds, or something else) is debated, his experience acted as a catalyst in the post-World War II era, a period marked by military buildup and nuclear anxiety. The article suggests that in the late 1940s, there was fertile ground for beliefs in alien visitors, initially perceived as benevolent beings who could save humanity from nuclear war or pollution.

It is argued that by the 1950s, US military authorities exploited this belief, contributing to the public's perception of unexplained aerial phenomena. The rationale was that it was more convenient for the public to believe they saw alien spacecraft than to admit that a bright light in the sky was a new spy plane being tested over the Soviet Union. UFO observations could thus be used to conceal military secrets.

The article notes that SUFOI (Danmarks UFO Forening) was formed ten years after Arnold's famous flight near Mount Rainier. While not the first UFO organization in Denmark, it has a long history, with earlier groups like UFO'54 and DISC existing in the 1950s. SUFOI is highlighted as one of the world's oldest UFO organizations, celebrating its 50th anniversary on November 10th. The article reflects on how interpretations of UFO phenomena have changed over 50 years, noting that in 1957, eyewitness accounts were generally taken as objective truth, whereas today, it is understood that what is seen may not accurately reflect reality.

Over the past half-century, eyewitness observations have remained central to UFO research. Without these accounts, there would be no UFO research, documentaries, debates, books, or publications like UFO-Nyt. While the content of observations may not have changed significantly, the way observers interpret their experiences might differ. The 60-year history of UFOs has included stories of contactees, abductions, and men in black, but these constitute a small fraction of the total observations, which are largely made by ordinary people and share common characteristics.

SUFOI has had many active members who have dedicated thousands of unpaid hours to investigating UFO reports. After 50 years of investigation, the organization decided to summarize its findings to answer the question: "Have we become wiser?" The answer is expected to be presented by Toke Haunstrup on November 10th at SUFOI's anniversary conference in Lyngby Kulturhus, based on a 50-year report.

Ufoerne og Den kolde Krig (UFOs and The Cold War)

Type: German documentary program from 2005

This section introduces a German documentary that suggests many UFO sightings throughout the years were actually secret military aircraft. The film "Ufoerne og Den kolde Krig" explores the connection between UFO observations in the USA and the Soviet Union, examining how the two superpowers exploited the fear of being dominated by the other, and how irrational fear permeated the already explosive climate of the Cold War.

Bliver vi manipuleret? (Are we being manipulated?)

Author: Af Stuart Miller

This article discusses books published by Anomalist Books, including works by Patrick Huyghe and Dennis Stacy, which cover paranormal topics like ghosts, UFOs, and unsolved mysteries. The latest issue of "The Anomalist" features articles on Jack the Ripper, cryptozoology, and life after death. One article, "Operation ESPionage" by Nick Redfern, is a preview of his book "On The Trail Of The Saucer Spies: UFOs And Government Surveillance."

Stuart Miller interviews Nick Redfern about his contribution to "Operation ESPionage." Redfern discusses previous articles on American contactees like George Adamski and George Van Tassel, and the FBI's theory that they might have been part of a communist conspiracy to convince people that aliens were communists. Redfern recounts Adamski's statement that the aliens he met believed they were communists and that Russia would dominate the world, leading to a thousand years of peace.

In 1954, a person from Yucca Valley, California, informed the FBI about Van Tassel, suggesting he might be a Soviet spy. Although Van Tassel's claims were less extreme than Adamski's, he discussed controversial topics like economics and the Bible. The FBI investigated both individuals. Redfern's research into Van Tassel's history and his connections to Adamski, the FBI, and surveillance uncovered declassified FBI material titled "Extra Sensory Perception 1957 to 1960."

Redfern states that books on the subject often start from the early 1970s, referencing researchers like Harold Putoff and Russell Targ, who worked for US intelligence agencies (CIA, DIA, Army). He notes that most documents on remote viewing also date from that period.

The newly released FBI material indicates that the FBI's interest in ESP dates back to the 1950s. A 1952 Pentagon meeting involved various intelligence personnel, and lectures were held to determine if ESP could be used in psychological warfare. Some within the FBI and other intelligence agencies concluded that Russians might have developed ESP to brainwash American citizens into believing they had met non-terrestrial, communist aliens. This was seen as a bizarre form of mind control or a Soviet plot, where information was transmitted as thought waves rather than through manipulation with fake spaceships.

Redfern questions whether there is proof for these conclusions, stating he found no evidence. He suggests that the FBI's focus on Adamski stemmed from his pro-communist statements. The FBI investigated the reasons behind such perceptions, and public awareness of these individuals led the FBI to investigate their backgrounds. Van Tassel never made a pro-communist statement, and the FBI's interest was sparked by public reports.

Adamski claimed Russians would dominate the world, leading the FBI to investigate ESP. They considered whether Adamski received information via ESP and if ESP could be used to induce strokes, heart attacks, or depression. A 1957 document shows the FBI's strong engagement in ESP research, including the idea of hiring psychics for espionage. Several alleged psychics came under scrutiny by the FBI, CIA, and Army in the late 1950s, undergoing extensive investigations after being invited to secret meetings in Washington D.C. to demonstrate their abilities. Claims were made about blindfolded individuals reading documents from bags.

However, the US intelligence agencies did not gain much from these efforts and adopted a skeptical stance on whether they were being misled by individuals who were merely jumping on a bandwagon or if there was genuine substance to it.

Redfern believes that the military may have buried mutual rivalries and secrecy, as classified ESP investigations were conducted without sharing data. While the CIA was reportedly interested, their responses were hesitant. The FBI acknowledged ESP as a potential tool but faced opposition from other intelligence branches.

This continued into the early 1960s, when J. Edgar Hoover, based on his contacts, concluded that the subject was not worth pursuing. However, other intelligence branches disagreed and were reluctant to share information.

Redfern emphasizes that the declassified document not only defines the scope of US ESP research for espionage but also mentions Pentagon meetings on ESP use as early as 1952, and even references Nazi interest in ESP during World War II.

The document, comprising 40-50 pages, reveals bizarre accounts from the early days of ufology. Redfern is convinced there is truth to these accounts and believes that key figures in ufology, and the concept itself, have a terrestrial explanation rather than an extraterrestrial origin.

When asked about the term "ufology," Redfern refers to the Roswell incident, suggesting it might have a terrestrial explanation. He believes contactees were not unique in claiming contact with aliens but may have been unwitting participants in a psychological operation orchestrated by intelligence agencies, manipulating the UFO subject to conceal other matters or serve other purposes.

Redfern suggests that intelligence agencies did not invent the concept of UFOs but manipulate public belief for various reasons. He draws parallels between modern abduction reports and 500-year-old folklore, noting classic parallels that researchers like Jacques Vallee have discussed. He posits that modern abductions could be used by intelligence agencies to test new technologies.

He uses cattle mutilations as a classic example, suggesting that intelligence agencies may have used the phenomenon to conceal secret investigations into the use of biological warfare among cattle, linking it to UFOs. This, he argues, is not an invention of the concept but a manipulation of it.

Når man husker forkert (When one remembers incorrectly)

Source: University of Virginia study

This section reports on a study from the University of Virginia indicating that older adults are more prone to making memory errors and have greater confidence in their recollections than younger adults, even when those memories are incorrect. This finding has implications for the reliability of eyewitness testimony, particularly in legal proceedings.

The study, published in "Psychonomic Bulletin & Review," suggests that convincing but erroneous eyewitness accounts can lead to wrongful convictions in the US. As older adults constitute a growing portion of the population, an increasing number of incorrect judgments based on eyewitness testimony are anticipated.

Dodson and student Lacy Krueger investigated cases of "false memories," where individuals believed an event occurred when it was only suggested. Their research found that while both younger and older adults made errors when recalling details from a video, older adults were alarmingly prone to holding onto these false perceptions. Younger individuals were more likely to admit uncertainty.

Previous studies have also shown that older adults are more likely to "remember" events that did not happen or misinterpret actual events. The study suggests this occurs because older adults tend to misassemble details of events, leading to a high degree of confidence that they remember these details clearly.

Participants watched a five-minute video of a burglary and police chase and answered 24 yes/no questions. Eight questions referred to details not present in the video, such as the suggestion of a firearm being used when none was shown.

Before the test, participants were informed that some questions would cover details not in the video. They were asked to note if the detail appeared in the video, only in the questionnaire, or neither. They also rated the confidence in their answers.

Interestingly, the confidence level, even with false memories, was significantly higher among older adults. Dodson suggests this is not simply due to poorer memory but possibly a mechanism leading to high self-assurance, stemming from the perceived clarity of details. This pattern is concerning when it influences the credibility of eyewitness accounts in court.

The older adult group in the study ranged from 60 to 80 years old, while the younger participants were university students. Three groups were involved: older adults who completed the questionnaire immediately after the video, a younger group who also completed it immediately, and a younger group who completed it two days later to observe memory differences.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the intersection of UFO phenomena with government activities, military secrets, and psychological manipulation. There's a strong emphasis on historical analysis, tracing the origins of UFOlogy and its potential co-option by intelligence agencies. The editorial stance appears critical of simplistic explanations and highlights the importance of rigorous investigation, as exemplified by SUFOI's long-term commitment. The issue also underscores the unreliability of human memory and its potential to be influenced, suggesting that even seemingly straightforward UFO sightings might be subject to complex psychological and governmental factors. The magazine promotes critical thinking and encourages readers to question official narratives and the nature of evidence presented in the field of ufology.