UFO Mail - No 127 - 2011

Magazine Overview

Title: Skandinavisk UFO Information
Issue: Nr. 127
Date: March 8, 2011
Publisher: Skandinavisk UFO Information / Danmarks UFO Forening

This issue of Skandinavisk UFO Information focuses on the release of a significant collection of British UFO files by The National Archives, alongside an investigation into a student-created UFO hoax and a detailed account of a childhood alien encounter.

Frigivne engelske ufo-arkiver vækker opsigt - igen (Newly released UK UFO archives cause a stir - again)

This main article, authored by Ole Henningsen, reports on the 7th release of UFO documents from the British government via The National Archives. This latest batch comprises 8,500 documents, spanning from the 1950s to the present day, including political and intelligence-related materials. The documents contain photographs, drawings, and eyewitness accounts of unexplained aerial phenomena. With the addition of 35 files to the online archive, this marks the seventh release since May 2008, with the entire archive expected to be made public by 2012. The newly released files cover the period 1997-2006 and include reports from the Ministry of Defence, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Home Office, and the UN. Eyewitnesses include police officers, soldiers, and ordinary citizens who have reported sightings of objects described as 'chewing gum-shaped craft' and 'mermaids' to 'silver spinning tops'. One man from London reported a large cigar-shaped craft with projectiles on the sides in October 1998, claiming subsequent alien abduction.

Fotos fra Sri Lanka (Photos from Sri Lanka)

This section highlights an interesting observation made by a retired Royal Air Force officer who saw and photographed a phenomenon in the sky over Sri Lanka in March 2004. He described a peculiar 'aura' followed by thunder, after which a ring-shaped object resembling a doughnut appeared. He sent his photographs to the Ministry of Defence upon his return. The article also mentions a less extraordinary case from 1967 where six small, 'beeping' disc-shaped craft alarmed the British army and intelligence services, but they were later found to be silver-colored 'craft' constructed by local engineering students as a prank. The article includes sketches of UFO descriptions from the archives, one of which depicts a craft forming a crop circle.

David Clarke som banebryder (David Clarke as a pioneer)

This section credits Dr. David Clarke, a new generation of UFO researchers, with spearheading the effort to gain access to the British Ministry of Defence's UFO archives through the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Dyk selv ned i arkiverne (Dive into the archives yourself)

Dr. David Clarke, who holds a PhD in folklore and teaches journalism at Sheffield Hallam University, is an official consultant for The National Archives (TNA). He has prepared a 14-page 'Highlights Guide' providing an overview of the newly released documents. Links are provided for readers to access this guide and a podcast featuring Clarke's explanation of the files. BBC News clips discussing the documents are also linked, along with Clarke's website.

Gratis adgang i en måned (Free access for one month)

For a limited period, the newly released archive material is available for free download from the provided URL. After this month, a small fee will be required. This also applies to previously released British UFO archive materials.

Nick Pope om seneste dokumentfrigivelse (Nick Pope on the latest document release)

Nick Pope, former head of the UK Ministry of Defence's 'UFO-Desk' from 1991-1994, has commented on the latest release of British UFO documents. He was a guest speaker at SUFOI's 50th-anniversary celebration in November 2007. He joined the Ministry of Defence in 1985 and was responsible for coordinating investigations into UFO reports received by the authorities.

Dansk medieinteresse (Danish media interest)

The release of the British defence archives on UFOs garnered international media attention, including in Denmark. Several electronic media outlets contacted SUFOI for comments. The article notes that some media initially focused on foreign telegram headlines and may not have realized this was the seventh release of documents. It lists several Danish media outlets that covered the story, including Berlingske, bt.dk, ing.dk, politiken.dk, Information, and TV2.

Aldrig set noget lignende... (Never seen anything like it...)

This section, written by Ole Henningsen, details an email received by SUFOI from a teacher named Margrethe Jørgensen. She describes an unusual object observed by her and her students on January 4, 2011, near Lillebælt. The object exhibited erratic movements, a faint red glow, and appeared oval or round. One student captured a photo on a smartphone, which later revealed a mysterious 'tail'. The teacher expressed concern and sought SUFOI's opinion, stating they had observed the solar eclipse earlier that day.

Uafklarede spørgsmål (Unresolved questions)

SUFOI's photo consultants raised several questions regarding Margrethe Jørgensen's report. They questioned the instruction to students not to discuss the event, the lack of school or teacher identification, and the single photo provided despite students having smartphones. They also noted the absence of EXIF data in the image. SUFOI sent a reply requesting more detailed information.

Ingen ekstra oplysninger (No further information)

After several days, SUFOI received a brief reply from 'Margrethe,' stating she could not provide more details due to fear for her job and marriage, and that the information was confidential. SUFOI concluded that the case was likely a hoax or a prank, expressing that they had no hard feelings.

"Margrethe" kapitulerer ("Margrethe" capitulates)

In a subsequent email, 'Margrethe' confessed that the photo was a hoax. The 'object' was a smoke alarm placed upside down and digitally manipulated in Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0. The students created the hoax to see if SUFOI would fall for it, inspired by 'bad' UFO photos found online. They admitted to copying the image into Paint and saving it to remove data, and the email address was created specifically for this purpose. They apologized for wasting SUFOI's time.

Sjældent ude for svindel, men naturligvis med i baghovedet (Rarely out for fraud, but naturally in the back of our minds)

SUFOI's photo department acknowledged the confession, stating that while the investigation took time, it was valuable in confirming their suspicions. They appreciated the effort put into the hoax and noted that it provided a refreshing element to their work of examining photos, especially when the photographer is unaware of what has been photographed or observed.

Hils Scully...

The two students signed off by explaining their pseudonym 'Margrethe' was chosen to appear more credible than using their own identities. They also mentioned signing up for the UFO-mail newsletter.

Rumfolk på besøg for 50 år siden? (Alien visit 50 years ago?)

This article by Ole Henningsen discusses the publication of a booklet by Arne-Harder Jørgensen, who claims to have met aliens as a child. The story, which took place in August 1956 near Raklev, Sjælland, involves three small grey aliens, about 120 cm tall, with large heads, collecting berries. Jørgensen, then 10 years old, was initially frightened but later approached them. He reported being hit by a toxic smell and that the aliens seemed to photograph him. After the encounter, some items were missing from the neighbor's property, including a flower stand and three hens. Jørgensen kept his account secret for 54 years due to concerns about his credibility in the job market. He has now published his story in the book 'UFO kontakt - af første, anden, tredje og fjerde grad!' (UFO contact - of first, second, third, and fourth degree!). The article mentions media coverage from Ekstra Bladet, BT, and Nordvestnyt.dk.

Boganmeldelse: Ufonauter stjal sjællandske høns (Book review: UFO-nauts stole Sjælland hens)

Per Borgaard, a UFO enthusiast since 1948, reviews Arne-Harder Jørgensen's book. He summarizes the 1956 encounter, noting the aliens' strange behavior (farting contest) and toxic gas. Borgaard points out that the story has many classic UFO encounter elements, such as the 'little grey men,' the paralysis ray, and the subsequent destruction of physical evidence. He also notes that while the 'grey aliens' became prominent after Whitley Strieber's book 'Communion' in 1987, Jørgensen's encounter predates this popularization.

Subjektiv oplevelse? (Subjective experience?)

This section critically examines Arne-Harder Jørgensen's account. The author suggests that while Jørgensen is likely reporting in good faith, the memory of an event from 55 years ago is susceptible to influence from subsequent readings and reports. The author compares the case to other famous encounters like Pascagoula and notes that such accounts often have a dreamlike quality, suggesting a vision or hallucination. The author argues that the lack of consistency between different close encounter reports indicates they are likely products of the witness's individual imagination, shaped by their unique experiences and knowledge. The idea of Earth being a cosmic hub for numerous alien races engaging in bizarre activities is deemed less probable than science fiction. The author also critiques George Adamski's story of Orthon from Venus, highlighting the scientific implausibility of an alien accustomed to Venus's high temperatures surviving on Earth.

The article concludes by advising readers not to believe everything they hear or see regarding UFO sightings.

UFO-Mail udgives af Skandinavisk UFO Information

This is the standard publication notice for UFO-Mail, stating copyright and terms for reprinting articles.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores UFO phenomena, declassified government documents, and eyewitness accounts. There is a strong emphasis on critical analysis, with a dedicated section for investigating potential hoaxes and questioning the veracity of subjective experiences. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry combined with a healthy dose of skepticism, encouraging readers to critically evaluate evidence and reports. The publication also highlights the efforts of UFO researchers and organizations in pursuing transparency and information regarding UFO phenomena.