UFO Mail - No 098 - 2008

Magazine Overview

Title: Skandinavisk UFO Information
Issue: UFO-Mail nr. 98, UFO-Nyt nr. 2, 2008
Date: May 9, 2008
Publisher: Danmarks UFO Forening

This issue of Skandinavisk UFO Information presents a selection of articles, offering insights into the impact of popular culture on UFO beliefs, historical aerial phenomena, and recent eyewitness accounts.

Nærkontakt for 30 år siden (Close Contact 30 Years Ago)

This article commemorates the 30th anniversary of the premiere of Steven Spielberg's film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." It explores how science fiction films have influenced public perception of alien visitation, the volume of UFO reports, and the general belief in UFOs. Despite skepticism, such as that expressed by Martin Gardner, the film did not lead to a surge in new UFO observations. Instead, CUFOS (Center for UFO Studies) noted that people submitted reports of sightings that had occurred years prior to the film's release. Spielberg collaborated with CUFOS by sending their observation forms to selected cinemas, which likely contributed to the resurfacing of older reports. Estelle Postol, CUFOS' secretary, stated that the center received 10-15 reports daily after the film's premiere, a significant increase from the 3-5 reports received previously. She added that the film "put the subject in a somewhat better light." Concurrently, the White House received numerous UFO-related letters, partly due to President Carter's earlier campaign promise to release classified UFO information.

The article also touches upon the film's portrayal of aliens and its potential influence on abduction reports. It references folklorist Thomas E. Bullard's hypothesis that if the film had a significant impact, abduction reports from before its release in October 1977 should show more variation in alien types, while later reports should be more uniform and resemble the aliens depicted in the film. Bullard's 1994 study of 104 abduction reports (38 pre-premiere, 65 post-premiere) concluded that the film did not create the concept of the standard humanoid alien, as these had existed since the beginning of the abduction phenomenon. He also noted that non-humanoid, monstrous, and exotic types constituted about 20% of reports before the film, and this proportion remained relatively constant afterward.

Lester D. Friedman, in "Citizen Spielberg," is quoted as saying that "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" presents a more progressive, tolerant, and cosmopolitan vision of the universe than most science fiction films. The film's portrayal of aliens as strong yet friendly, in contrast to the insectoid aliens of 1950s films, is highlighted as a significant achievement.

Foo-fightere i nyt lys (Foo-fighters in New Light)

Authored by Hans Schjørmann, this piece delves into the phenomenon of "foo-fighters," unexplained aerial objects observed during World War II. The term is often vaguely described as something seen during the air war, taking various forms and documented only by unclear photos. The article draws upon James Hayward's book, "2. Verdenskrigs myter og legender" (WWII Myths and Legends), which discusses the formation of myths and mass hysteria during wartime.

Initially, foo-fighters were explained as St. Elmo's fire, combat fatigue, or hallucinations. The article notes that pilots during WWII were often inexperienced, and some were under the influence of stimulants like amphetamines, which can cause hallucinations. The myth of foo-fighters was revived in 1954 with Harold Wilkins' book "Flying Saucers on the Moon," which suggested they were disc-shaped, aligning with the contemporary fascination with flying saucers.

Schjørmann points out that the contemporary explanations and debunking of foo-fighters were often omitted in later accounts, contributing to the perception of the phenomenon as mysterious. A persistent myth claims the British War Ministry investigated these "foreign flying objects" in 1943, concluding they were not German. However, research revealed that the chairman of this supposed investigation, General Massey, never existed, further illustrating the fabricated nature of some accounts.

The article concludes that the myth of foo-fighters persists, with Wikipedia stating the case remains unresolved. James Hayward's book, published by Schultz Forlag in 2007, is recommended for further reading.

Lys i formation (Lights in Formation)

This section, written by Ole Henningsen, details a UFO sighting reported by a 57-year-old man from Henne, Vestjylland, on March 30, 2008, at 6:05 AM. The witness observed five large, triangular lights in the sky, described as being like "fire" and approximately the size of a normal house (300 m). The lights pulsed, turning on and off without a discernible pattern, and were completely silent. The witness managed to take several photos with a Sony Ericsson K530i mobile phone, though the small file size limited detailed analysis. Astronomical explanations were ruled out due to the appearance and the positions of the sun, moon, and planets. The V-shape seen in some images was attributed to camera movement during long exposure. The witness noted that hot air balloons were unlikely given the early morning time. While military exercises with flares were considered, no confirmation was obtained from the defense forces. SUFOI (Skandinavisk UFO Information) is seeking reader input to help explain this observation.

Midtjylland, 1970'erne (Central Jutland, 1970s)

This personal account describes UFO observations made by the author and his mother in Central Jutland, Denmark, primarily in 1975. The author's mother, while home alone on a January evening in 1975, witnessed two UFOs, an event she never forgot. The family lived in a rural area, and the author notes that many UFO sightings occur in isolated locations.

On that particular evening, the author's mother called the UFO-Nyt editorial office with a question and was informed that there would be significant "activity" in the sky that evening, including the possibility of seeing UFOs. She went outside and observed the dark sky "open up," and from this opening, two oblong UFOs emerged, flying silently one after the other. They had an upper structure with divided windows and emitted fire from their rear. The lights were not so dark as to prevent clear observation, and the mother followed them for a time.

She was deeply affected by this experience, and the author emphasizes her credibility, stating she would not report such an event if it were not true. He finds no straightforward earthly explanation for the observation and expresses his own wonder.

Additional observations from the same period (circa 1973-1975) are recounted. One involved seeing unusually large, white, luminous lights resembling those from a large truck on a rural road. Another sighting described a bright red sphere flying erratically and silently in the same direction as the observer's car. The author and his mother observed these phenomena for as long as possible before they disappeared, leaving them with questions.

Send ufo-mail til familie, venner og bekendte!

This is a call to action, encouraging readers to forward the UFO-Mail newsletter to their family and friends to expand the distribution of UFO-related information, including observations, photographs, and material offers.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the intersection of popular culture and UFO phenomena, the historical analysis of unexplained aerial events, and the reporting of contemporary sightings. The magazine maintains a stance of open inquiry, presenting eyewitness accounts and expert analysis while acknowledging the mysterious nature of many UFO events. There is a clear effort to contextualize sightings within historical and cultural frameworks, such as the impact of films and the debunking of persistent myths. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation and dissemination of information within the UFO community.