UFO Mail - No 158 - 2013

Magazine Overview

This issue of Skandinavisk UFO Information, published by Danmarks UFO Forening on April 23, 2013, is issue number 158. The cover prominently features the Roswell incident with the headline "UFO-historien over dem alle" (The UFO story above all) and highlights a book by Kim Møller Hansen.

Roswell: The Ultimate UFO Story

The main article by Kim Møller Hansen delves into the Roswell incident of 1947. It begins by quoting a sensational press release from the Eighth Air Force's 509th Bomb Group at Roswell Army Air Field, which claimed the recovery of a 'flying saucer'. Hansen's book, "Roswell", priced at 89 DKK, aims to separate fact from myth surrounding the event. It is the second title in the "Fakta & Myter" (Facts & Myths) series, following "Area 51". The book is 59 illustrated A4 pages and is available exclusively through the SUFOI Shop. Any surplus from its sale will support the operation of ufo.dk.

Who Believes in Roswell? A Study by Frank Borzellieri

Another significant piece discusses a study by Frank Borzellieri, conducted as part of his master's thesis at Fordham University. Between September and December 2009, 1,066 people answered 43 questions to help Borzellieri profile Roswell believers. The study, published in 2011 as the book "Who Believes in Roswell? Discovering the Profile of the Roswell Believer" (160 pages, Western Academic Press), explores how factors like gender, race, religion, political affiliation, and education characterize those who believe in the Roswell incident. Borzellieri's research suggests that the more people know about the Roswell incident, the more likely they are to believe it, possibly because most sources focus on the spaceship hypothesis without critical examination. The book also features commentary from skeptics Michael Shermer and Joe Nickell, and Roswell proponents Stanton Friedman and Thomas J. Carey. Borzellieri himself has written six books and teaches journalism.

UFO Sighting near Vipperød, Denmark

Under the "Fra SUFOI's Fotoafdeling" (From SUFOI's Photo Department) section, Ole Henningsen reports on a sighting by a 44-year-old observer from Vestsjælland. The observer had witnessed similar lights around 8-10 times over 2-3 years, always at approximately the same time (22:40-23:10) on the route between Svinninge and Taastrup. The observer had even filmed the phenomenon with an iPhone. The report includes enhanced screenshots from the video, showing lights and what appears to be a roadside barrier. The photographer noted a flash near the ground followed by a light sphere appearing, which was only noticed on playback. The observer speculated about military activity or industrial sites but was ultimately seeking an explanation.

Contact with Jægersprislejren (Jægerspris Military Camp)

Following up on the Vipperød sighting, SUFOI contacted Jægersprislejren, located in Frederikssund municipality. Captain Morten Malthe Pedersen confirmed that there was activity in the area on the night of the observation. He stated that the lights were most likely signal flares, commonly used by military units during evening exercises, often appearing in chains of three to five. He confirmed that the military monitors for unauthorized flares over Isefjorden and could definitively identify them as such. Pedersen expressed willingness for SUFOI to contact them again if needed.

Conclusion on the Vipperød Sighting

Based on the response from Jægersprislejren and comments from Toke Haunstrup of SUFOI's Rapportarbejde, the conclusion is that the observed lights were indeed military flares. Haunstrup had also observed similar strong, yellowish lights from Særslev, appearing to rise from the horizon and hang for several minutes before slowly descending, often in sequences. He suggested these were likely marking lights associated with military activities, possibly near the Jægerspris camp. The photographer expressed gratitude for the explanation, noting that while the lights were very bright, the explanation resolved the mystery.

UFO-Related Article: "The Flying Saucers UFO-Nightmare"

A brief mention is made of an article in UFO-Mail nr. 136 (October 26, 2011) titled "Flyvevåbnets ufo-mareridt" (The Air Force's UFO Nightmare), which thoroughly examined the Condon Commission's unsolved "Case 46": the McMinnville pictures from May 11, 1950. The article suggested that the Trent family likely hoaxed the photographs by suspending a model on a thin wire. A new website, www.ipaco.fr, created by French photo experts, supports this hoax hypothesis with a 27-page photo analysis titled "Back to McMinnville pictures", published on March 23, 2013.

FBI Document: "Flying Saucers"

In late March 2013, an old FBI document resurfaced, becoming the most searched document on the FBI's website, attracting nearly a million views. The document, a memo from Special Agent Guy Hottel dated March 22, 1950, refers to information heard from another person about three recovered flying saucers in New Mexico. The memo describes them as circular, about 50 feet in diameter, with three occupants dressed in metallic cloth. The FBI notes that this information is not unique and that no other FBI personnel attached special significance to it at the time. The memo is linked to the alleged "spaceship crash landing" at Aztec, New Mexico, in 1948. The FBI itself provides a disclaimer that such older documents do not necessarily reflect current views. The article cautions against using this memo as proof of crashed UFOs in the US, noting that the document has been public since 1977.

"Alien Mysteries, Conspiracies and Cover-Ups" Book Review

Kim Møller Hansen reviews Kevin D. Randle's book "Alien Mysteries, Conspiracies and Cover-Ups", published in April 2013. Randle, a prolific author with over 80 books, is known for his work on the Roswell incident. Hansen notes that Randle's previous books on Roswell had faced criticism due to issues with his co-author, Donald Schmitt. The new book covers UFO history from Ezekiel to modern conspiracy theories, focusing on how authorities have handled the subject since Roswell. Hansen finds the book well-written but lacking clear conclusions on many points, particularly regarding Randle's current stance on the Roswell incident itself. He suggests the book's balanced approach might be a strategic choice for the American market, which has many UFO believers. The book is 340 pages and illustrated.

Solar Pillars in Belgium

A brief section discusses "solsøjler" (solar pillars) observed in Huy, eastern Belgium. These are vertical shafts of light seen above or below the sun, caused by the reflection of light from ice crystals in high cirrus clouds. Information and links to further details are provided.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on UFO phenomena, historical cases, and contemporary sightings. There is a clear emphasis on critical analysis, distinguishing between facts and myths, and debunking hoaxes (e.g., the McMinnville photos). The publication also engages with official documents (like the FBI memo) and military explanations for sightings, often concluding that many phenomena have rational explanations. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry combined with a skeptical approach to extraordinary claims, encouraging readers to seek evidence-based understanding.