UFO Mail - No 138 - 2011

Magazine Overview

This issue of Skandinavisk UFO Information, titled "Exeter, 1965 - en ufo-klassiker opklares" (Exeter, 1965 - a UFO classic explained), published on December 1, 2011, by Danmarks UFO Forening, focuses on demystifying a famous UFO case from 1965.

Exeter, 1965: A UFO Classic Explained

The main article by Kim Møller Hansen revisits the September 3, 1965, incident in Exeter, New Hampshire, USA. The event involved 18-year-old Norman J. Muscarello and police officers David R. Hunt and Eugene Bertrand, who reported seeing a group of five powerful red lights. These lights were described as moving in a straight line at a 60-degree angle, illuminating the entire area, and behaving like a falling leaf. They descended behind trees and a house, then reappeared, maintaining their 60-degree angle. Only one light was visible at a time, pulsing in a sequence (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1). Muscarello observed the lights for about 15 minutes before they disappeared behind trees and seemed to head towards a field. He reported feeling so threatened that he jumped into a ditch.

Police officer Eugene Bertrand recounts his involvement, starting with a call about a distressed woman who claimed a light had followed her car. He met Muscarello at the Exeter police station and, after hearing his account, drove him back to the sighting location. There, Bertrand and Muscarello observed five powerful red lights emerge from behind trees, moving erratically and shining brightly. The lights were so intense that they obscured any object behind them. Bertrand called Officer David Hunt, who also witnessed the lights over the field at an altitude of approximately 30 meters. The lights eventually disappeared into the distance, always maintaining their 60-degree line.

An observation report from Pease Air Force Base on September 15, 1965, noted clear weather and a slight wind from the west. The report's author concluded that they could not provide a definitive explanation, noting the credibility of the witnesses, particularly the police officers. The report also mentioned that five B-47 aircraft were airborne during the observation period but found no connection to the sighting.

The Exeter Incident's Fame and Investigation

Journalist John Fuller learned about the Exeter events through NICAP and wrote an article for "Saturday Review." This led to a book deal with G. P. Putnam's Sons, resulting in his 1966 bestseller, "Incident at Exeter." Fuller interviewed over 60 people, but the article suggests his book, while popular, contained incomplete accounts, often lacking crucial details like dates and precise observation times.

Closer to the Explanation

The article then presents a likely explanation for the Exeter sightings, drawing on the work of Joe Nickell and James McGaha. McGaha, an astronomer and former USAF pilot, recognized the lights from his experience "hooking up" with a Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker during aerial refueling operations. He explains that the KC-97 had red, flashing lights (receiver lights) and three white spotlights on its underside, used to guide the refueling boom. The boom itself, when lowered at a 64-degree angle, could appear to move like a falling leaf due to its stabilizers. The pulsing red lights were positioned about 20 feet from the refueling boom. The article notes that the KC-97 was part of the "Big Blast" exercise on September 2-3, 1965, which involved refueling B-47s. The lack of engine noise is attributed to the aircraft's distance from the witnesses, and the difficulty in judging distances in the dark.

The article questions why the USAF did not resolve the case in 1965, suggesting it was likely due to a lack of resources and perhaps an underestimation of how spectacular such aircraft lights could appear to untrained observers.

Other UFO Observations and SUFOI's Role

The magazine also features a section on recent UFO observations. One report from Rønne, Bornholm, on September 28, 2011, describes sightings of about 25-30 red lights moving calmly across the sky, initially thought to be burning up satellites, but later photographed. Another report from Esbjerg on October 16, 2011, details an orange object moving rapidly southwest to northeast, resembling a balloon with a burner but moving too fast.

SUFOI's conclusion on the Rønne sightings is that they were likely small hot air balloons. For the Esbjerg sighting, SUFOI concludes that while it resembled a balloon with a burner, its speed and course were unusual.

The article "Derfor er der stadig brug for SUFOI" (Why there is still a need for SUFOI) emphasizes the organization's role in providing a balanced perspective on UFO phenomena. It highlights the importance of critical thinking and factual investigation, referencing Kim Møller Hansen's book "Projekt UFO - tro, løgne og kold krig" (Project UFO - truth, lies, and the Cold War). The article discusses how SUFOI has evolved from a belief in UFOs as extraterrestrial spacecraft to a more investigative approach, using Occam's razor to find the simplest explanation for observations.

It also touches upon historical cases, including the debunked "UFO crash" on Amager in 1985, which was attributed to misinterpretations of natural phenomena. The article criticizes the tendency to mix religious or philosophical beliefs with UFO investigations, stressing the need to distinguish between proven facts and theories.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes a skeptical yet open-minded approach to UFO phenomena. It emphasizes the importance of thorough investigation, critical analysis, and the pursuit of factual evidence. The editorial stance is that while genuine unexplained phenomena may exist, many reported UFO sightings can be attributed to misidentified natural phenomena, conventional aircraft, or even hoaxes. SUFOI positions itself as an organization dedicated to providing well-researched information and debunking myths, thereby contributing to a more rational understanding of the UFO topic. The magazine also highlights the historical evolution of UFO beliefs, from early extraterrestrial hypotheses to more complex explanations involving military technology and psychological factors.

Title: UFO-Mail
Issue: 136
Issue Date: November 25-27, 2011
Publisher: Skandinavisk UFO Information

This issue of UFO-Mail delves into a photographic investigation of a mysterious light phenomenon observed in Pandrup, Nordjylland, Denmark, on July 26, 2011. The magazine also features an article on the awarding of a prize to astrophysicist Michael Linden-Vørnle and discusses the 'McMinnville' UFO case.

The Pandrup Light Phenomenon

The primary focus of this issue is the analysis of a UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon) sighting reported on July 26, 2011, near Pandrup, Nordjylland. The report details how a 31-year-old woman visiting Nordjylland received photos from two witnesses who had observed and photographed two powerful, stationary lights in the sky for three minutes at 21:49 from Kystvejen.

Initial Observations and Analysis

The observer initially speculated that the lights might be from a Thai balloon but felt they were moving too fast. However, upon reviewing the video recordings, the observer revised this perception, noting that the movement was not as rapid as initially felt, attributing this to the nature of immediate perception and memory. The observer described the experience as a "fun experience" that "got the pulse up."

SUFOI's photo department agreed with the observer's revised assessment. Based on the report, weather data from DMI (Danish Meteorological Institute), and the appearance and flight pattern of the lights, they concluded it was likely a small hot air balloon launched from the local area.

Further Investigation and Aviation Hypothesis

Upon receiving the images, SUFOI's photo consultants began an investigation. The initial thought was that the lights could be the landing lights of an aircraft departing from Aalborg Airport. This hypothesis was explored using flight tracking websites like Flightradar24.com, but the available data only allowed for a 16-day backtrack, yielding no definitive match for the specific date and time.

One of SUFOI's photo consultants, Hans Bødker, who is also a former fighter pilot and commercial airline pilot, suggested that the lights were indeed landing lights from a departing aircraft from Aalborg Airport. He supported this by noting that the EXIF data indicated a focal length equivalent to a 240mm telephoto lens on a 35mm film camera, suggesting a significant distance. He concluded that the photographer had observed and photographed a plane taking off from Aalborg Airport with its landing lights on.

The Breakthrough: A Safety Landing

An appeal for information led to a response from Niels Kjærby, who works at Sønderstrømfjord Airport in Greenland, stating he sees similar lights daily from aircraft. Amateur astronomer Karsten Bomholt noted that Pandrup is close to Aalborg Airport and recalled seeing similar sights. He also pointed out that the timing of the photograph, taken shortly after sunset (indicated by the Earth's shadow, or 'Belt of Venus'), suggested a time around 22:15, which conflicted with the EXIF data of 21:49. He correctly noted that sunset in Pandrup on July 26, 2011, was at 21:48, making the photo taken just after sunset and facing southeast, aligning with the approach path to Aalborg Airport.

The crucial piece of the puzzle came when SUFOI's photo consultant, Klaus Silberbauer Andersen, pointed out that a Norwegian flight had made a safety landing at Aalborg on July 26, 2011. This flight, a Boeing 737-800, had encountered birds shortly after takeoff, a 'bird-strike', forcing it to return to Aalborg. The flight was delayed by three hours, and passengers were able to re-board around 21:45.

Confirmation and Conclusion

Further analysis, including the distance calculation of approximately 10 km based on the landing light spacing of a Boeing 737-800, confirmed that the lights photographed were indeed from this Norwegian aircraft. The article suggests that the plane might have circled the airport before landing to check its status. The investigation concluded that the lights were not a UAP but a routine, albeit unusual, aviation event.

Award for Michael Linden-Vørnle

This issue also highlights the recognition of astrophysicist Michael Linden-Vørnle, who received the Formidlerpris (Communicator Award) from the Svend Bergsøes Fond. The award honors his outstanding work in communicating knowledge about the universe to children, young people, and the general public. Linden-Vørnle, who has worked as an astrophysicist and communicator at the Tycho Brahe Planetarium since 1999, is recognized for his books, articles, lectures, and media appearances. He is also affiliated with the Institute for Space Research and Technology at the Technical University of Denmark, focusing on the European Planck satellite mission. The award includes a prize of 100,000 Danish Kroner and was to be presented on November 25.

The McMinnville Case

Another section revisits the 'McMinnville' UFO case, referencing an article in UFO-Mail issue 136. The article discusses the high probability that the objects in Paul Trent's famous photographs are of terrestrial origin. It poses a question about whether a car side mirror visible in a LIFE Magazine photo of Paul Trent could be the same type of mirror used as a 'UFO' prop in his famous pictures, urging readers to provide information about the car's make and model.

Danish Attitudes Towards Extraterrestrials

The magazine references a Søndagsavisen article from November 25-27, 2011, based on a YouGov survey of 1,110 Danes. SUFOI's chairman, Kim Møller Hansen, was interviewed to provide context on the survey's findings. Hansen suggested that experiences in nature, far from urban environments, can create strong impressions, especially when one is alone and unfamiliar with natural phenomena. He countered any implication that rural dwellers are more prone to 'wild theories' than city dwellers.

Call to Action and Membership

UFO-Mail encourages readers to submit their UFO reports to www.ufo.dk. It also promotes membership in SUFOI's 'Støttekreds' (Support Circle) for 2015, offering a free book with a donation of 250 Danish Kroner or more. Information on how to become a member and make payments is provided.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The editorial stance of UFO-Mail, as demonstrated in this issue, is one of rigorous investigation and evidence-based analysis. The magazine prioritizes debunking sensational claims with logical explanations, particularly those related to aviation and natural phenomena. While acknowledging the existence of unexplained sightings, the publication's focus is on providing factual information and encouraging critical thinking. The emphasis on detailed photo analysis, cross-referencing with flight data, and seeking expert opinions highlights a commitment to scientific methodology in exploring UFO phenomena. The magazine also actively engages its readership by soliciting reports and contributions, fostering a community of interest in the subject.