UFO Mail - No 195 - 2015

Magazine Overview

Title: Skandinavisk UFO Information
Issue: UFO-Mail nr. 195
Date: April 20, 2015
Publisher: Danmarks UFO Forening

This issue of Skandinavisk UFO Information delves into two prominent topics within the UFO community: the highly anticipated unveiling of alleged Roswell alien slides and a comprehensive explanation of how military flares are frequently misidentified as UFOs.

Roswell Alien Slides: A World Premiere

The lead article announces a significant event scheduled for May 5, 2015, at the National Auditorium in Mexico City. A world sensation is promised with the revelation of two color slides, purportedly showing a Roswell alien in a laboratory. These slides, discovered in 1998 in an attic in Sedona, Arizona, by the heirs of Bernard and Hilda Ray, are said to have been found among hundreds of old slides. Bernard Ray was a geologist with experience in oil exploration near Roswell, and Hilda Ray was a lawyer, private pilot, and had influential acquaintances. The slides were brought to the attention of Adam Dew, owner of Slidebox Media, who then involved Roswell 'experts' Don Schmitt and Tom Carey. Adam Dew has documented the entire analysis process in a documentary film that will be shown at the event. The presentation will be hosted by Mexican journalist and TV personality Jaime Maussan, known for his UFO program 'Tercer Milenio TV'. Maussan has a history of presenting sensational UFO stories, his interest sparked by a solar eclipse in 1991 which he initially mistook for UFOs but were later identified as Venus. The article draws a parallel to the 1997 presentation of the 'alien autopsy' film by Ray Santilli, suggesting a similar potential for financial gain through media rights.

Military Flares: The Common Misidentification

The majority of the magazine is dedicated to explaining how military flares, often referred to as 'flares', are a frequent source of UFO reports. Henning Dethlefsen explores the history and function of these pyrotechnic devices.

History and Function of Flares

Lyseffekter (light effects) have been used for centuries, but their military application significantly advanced during World War II. Flares were developed to aid bombers in locating targets, particularly at night. The British 'Pathfinders' used a tactic involving flares to mark targets. Small colored balls were ejected, creating a trail of white flares towards the target, followed by colored flares (red, yellow, green) to mark the target area before the main bombing run. These colored flares, hanging by parachute, could burn for 5-6 minutes and were nicknamed 'Candles' by the English and 'Christbaüme' (Christmas trees) by the Germans due to their appearance. This 'skymarking' technique led to countermeasures, including the use of decoy flares to mislead enemy bombers.

Flares as Missile Defense

In modern warfare, flares serve a crucial role in defense against heat-seeking missiles. By emitting intense heat, higher than that of a jet engine, flares can decoy these missiles. They are deployed in large numbers from aircraft and can be manually or automatically fired. While primarily used by military aircraft and helicopters, they are also being adopted by civilian airlines for protection against terrorist attacks, as exemplified by EL-AL's implementation in 2004. However, the use of flares on civilian aircraft led to bans in some European countries.

Flares as Decoys and Training Targets

Flares are also used to simulate aircraft signatures or create confusion for missiles. While advanced missile systems are developing countermeasures, flares remain a widely used tool in military aviation. Furthermore, flares are employed as targets in military exercises. Larger light bombs, which can hang in the air for extended periods via parachute, are used, reducing the risk of hitting the aircraft that deployed them. Some flares are equipped with reflectors to be visible to radar-guided missiles. The Greifswald lights are cited as an example of this use, with similar sightings still appearing on YouTube and being misinterpreted by UFO enthusiasts.

Case Studies of Flare Misidentification

The article presents several cases where UFO sightings were later explained as flares:

• Phoenix Lights (1997): A widely reported sighting of lights forming the outline of a large, silent craft was later attributed to an A-10 pilot firing his last defensive flares on his return flight.
• Michigan Military Exercise (2012): A large military exercise in Michigan led to numerous UFO reports, which were explained by the use of defensive flares.
• Stephenville Lights (2008): Lights seen near Stephenville, Texas, were also attributed to military exercises.
• Danish Cases: Several Danish sightings are discussed:
• March 19, 2011: Reports of four lights near Kolding and Fyn were likely related to Danish military exercises.
• May 25, 2010: A pilot observed a strange light over the Baltic Sea near Bornholm, later explained as likely flares from Polish military exercises.
• Summer 2007: Lights observed near Bønnet, Falster, were also linked to German military exercises over the Baltic Sea.
• April 1, 2014: Lights seen from Virum were attributed to flares fired during exercises at Jægerspris.
• March 25, 2015: A woman in Frederikssund reported seeing multiple lights, which were explained as military activities at Jægerspris.

The Difficulty of Certain Identification

The article emphasizes that it is often difficult to achieve 100% certain identification of these phenomena. Gaps in information, secrecy, or the destruction of evidence are often exploited by ufologists to maintain the mystery. However, the authors argue that in many UFO cases, flares provide the most plausible explanation.

Historical Danish Sightings

Ole Henningsen contributes a section on historical Danish sightings, particularly those from the 1960s and 1970s. Mysterious red-orange lights observed over the southern evening sky, especially from Lolland-Falster and Bornholm, were eventually identified as being related to East German or Warsaw Pact military exercises in the Baltic Sea area. Newspaper clippings from the period illustrate various 'UFO' reports that were later attributed to military exercises, light bombs, and flares.

Conclusion: Military Exercises as the Primary Explanation

SUFOI's photo department, after reviewing video material and witness accounts from a 2015 incident near Frederikssund, concludes that the observed lights were indeed military flares. Captain Morten Malthe Pedersen confirmed that light rockets, signal pistols, and a 'dyssekanon' (likely a type of flare launcher) were fired during exercises at Jægerspris on March 25, 2015. While the observer estimated the lights to be 150-200 meters away and at a similar altitude, Pedersen expressed doubt that these flares could illuminate rooftops as far away as Græse Bakkeby, suggesting only a slight reflection on shiny surfaces. The article references Toke Haunstrup's work, which provides examples of distant lights being perceived as illuminating rooftops or even following cars. Ultimately, SUFOI is convinced that the observed phenomena in the recent case were military light activities.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes a skeptical yet open-minded approach to UFO phenomena. The editorial stance is that while UFOs are a subject of interest, many reported sightings have mundane explanations, with military activities and equipment, particularly flares, being the most common culprits. The magazine aims to educate its readers by providing detailed explanations and case studies that debunk sensational claims and offer rational, evidence-based conclusions. There is a clear emphasis on critical analysis and the scientific method in investigating UFO reports.