UFO Mail - No 196 - 2015

Magazine Overview

Title: Skandinavisk UFO Information
Issue: UFO-Mail nr. 196
Date: May 12, 2015
Publisher: Danmarks UFO Forening

This issue of Skandinavisk UFO Information, published by Danmarks UFO Forening, focuses on two primary topics: the controversial 'Roswell alien' slides and a historical wave of 'mysterious airship' sightings in Scandinavia in 1910.

Roswell-Alien Goes Again! Part 2

The article by Kim Møller Hansen critically examines the event held on May 5, 2015, at the National Auditorium in Mexico City, organized by Mexican TV host and UFO enthusiast Jaime Maussan. The event, which was streamed live, promised to reveal evidence that two alleged Roswell slides from 1947 depicted an alien. However, the author, who chose not to pay the $20 fee, reports based on blog posts from attendees that the event was a significant disappointment. The video stream was reportedly poor, frequently interrupted, and ultimately failed to deliver compelling proof. Even hardcore UFO believers and Roswell proponents expressed disappointment. Only one slide's motive was shown, and it strongly resembled a mummy photographed in a museum. Despite a ban on photography, images of the displayed object did circulate online. The article includes a photo of an Egyptian mummy from Thebes, exhibited at The National Museum of Natural History (part of The Smithsonian Institution, USA), noting that anthropologist David Hunt analyzed it in 2012. Michael Heiser, an expert in Middle Eastern and biblical studies, is quoted stating that the 'Roswell slide' looks like a child's mummy in a display case, a sentiment echoed by several Egyptologists. The article further points out that the white rectangle in the image, possibly a museum label, has been analyzed by others. Some claim it reads, "Mummy of a two-year-old boy." The article directly compares the Thebes mummy to the 'Roswell-dias' image, suggesting they are the same object.

1910 - Among Comets and Airships

This section, authored by Thomas Brisson Jørgensen, delves into the year 1910, highlighting its significance for both astronomical events and early aviation. It begins by referencing a newspaper report from January 1910 describing a mysterious aerial phenomenon resembling a large airship with lanterns and a man in a basket. The article then discusses Halleys Comet, which passed relatively close to Earth in 1910, noting the historical superstitions and anxieties associated with comets. A particular concern was Earth passing through the comet's tail, which contained small amounts of hydrocyanic acid (cyanide gas), a fear amplified by popular astronomer Camille Flammarion. This led to widespread panic in some countries, with Italy experiencing oxygen shortages and other nations engaging in festive or anxious preparations.

Denmark, however, experienced less panic, with the comet nicknamed the 'Halløj-Kometen' (Hello-Kometen). The year 1910 was also pivotal for aviation, with Denmark hosting airshows and flights. Aviator Robert Svendsen made significant flights, including the first Danish flight over open water. The article notes that 1910 saw numerous articles about inventors and their flying machines, as well as reports of pilots crashing.

The author posits that 1910 was a fertile ground for observing unusual aerial phenomena, leading to reports of 'historical UFOs.' The article aims to present and analyze a few such observations of 'mysterious airships' in Denmark from January 1910.

UFOs from a Bygone Era

When ufologists discuss pre-1947 sightings, the American airship wave of 1896-97 is often cited. This period saw numerous reports of fantastic flying craft. The author defines an 'airship wave' as a group of related sightings that build upon previous observations of similar objects over a definable period. Folklorist Thomas Bullard's system for categorizing UFO waves is mentioned. The sightings discussed in the article are considered a local 'mini-wave' or 'flap' but can be seen as part of a larger trend. Many reports from the 1896-97 wave only surfaced in the 1960s, and further scrutiny revealed instances of deliberate hoaxes, although some elements remain unexplained.

The article notes that the viral nature of these reports, amplified by contemporary newspapers, is similar to how information spreads today. The 'formula' for spreading such phenomena remains largely the same, though the visual orientation is now greater.

The Airship Wave of 1896-97

The author explains that while manned balloons and early airships existed before 1896-97, the observed craft were described as more advanced, often cigar-shaped, and capable of maneuvers not officially possible at the time. This led to speculation about 'cracking the code of aviation.' The article includes an illustration from The Chicago Times-Herald dated April 12, 1897, depicting a mysterious airship.

Airship Waves in the 20th Century

As the 20th century progressed, more flying objects appeared, and 'mysterious airship' sightings continued, albeit in different contexts. In 1909, significant waves occurred in England and New Zealand, with sightings of German Zeppelins fueling fears of a German invasion. A smaller wave in Australia in August 1909 involved sightings of a local inventor's supposed heavier-than-air airship. The article notes that many of these sightings were likely misidentifications.

Similar speculations occurred before and during World War I, often attributing sightings to Germans, though technology at the time made large-scale airship use for complex purposes unlikely. The article mentions a 'ghost airship' wave in Britain from 1912-13.

A significant discovery was made in the 1970s by Danish ufologist Willy Wegner, who identified a previously unknown Danish airship wave from just before and after the Tunguska event in 1908. During this period, the night sky over Denmark was illuminated for several days. The sightings were concentrated in northern Jutland and described an airship that was large, elongated, mechanical, and winged, unlike typical Zeppelins. Wegner's investigation found no known airships that could have been in the area at the time, suggesting these were unexplained phenomena.

The Airship That Came In From the Cold

This section focuses on specific Danish sightings from January 1910. The author notes that these sightings, though minor individually, might be linked to an observation in Norway on January 3, 1910. Reports of the Norwegian sighting appeared in Danish newspapers the following day. The description from Norway mentioned a dirigible with a strong, intensely bright light, moving south at high speed. The object was observed for about 45 minutes, descending towards the sea and then ascending again.

Subsequent reports in Danish newspapers, such as Aftenbladet and Fyens Social-Demokrat, on January 5, 1910, suggested the Norwegian object was not an airship but a star obscured by clouds, acting like a searchlight. However, this explanation was questioned as the observation was reportedly made under clear skies. The reliability of the initial observer was also doubted.

On January 6, Vendsyssel Tidende reported a sighting of a large airship with several brightly lit lanterns, moving south. This article was reprinted in Fyens Stiftstidende on January 10. Two days later, Fyens Stiftstidende reported a sighting of an airship in the east, with observers noting a man in the basket. An article in Aftenbladet on January 14 mentioned this observation took place on Fyn, east of Odense.

The author traces the potential route of these sightings, suggesting a connection between the Norwegian report and the Danish ones. The article includes a map illustrating the possible movement of the observed phenomena.

The author investigates potential explanations, including secret overflights by other craft or clandestine operations. The article mentions the Gross-Basenach M III airship, but its flights were confined to Germany. The possibility of a private inventor testing an airship is also considered, a hypothesis popular during the 1896-97 wave, but deemed less likely for 1910 due to the increasing prevalence of known flying machines.

Possible Explanations

One theory explored is the influence of celestial bodies. The article notes that many 1896-97 sightings coincided with periods when Venus was clearly visible. For the 1910 sightings, Venus and Jupiter are mentioned as potential sources of misidentification, particularly on January 11 when Arcturus and Jupiter were visible. The article acknowledges that the conditions for observing a basket and a figure were unclear.

A reader's letter from Vendsyssel Tidende on January 24 describes a luminous streak from a cloud, initially thought to be from an airship's searchlight, but later identified as a comet. This is identified as the daylight comet C/1910 A1, also known as the Innes Comet.

The article concludes by discussing the role of 'mysterious searchlights' in many airship reports. It notes that these are not typically mentioned in books about airships, suggesting a possible 'observation trend' where the idea of searchlights became associated with unidentified aerial phenomena. The author also touches upon the speculation of extraterrestrial visitors, referencing the public's interest in Martian canals observed by Schiaparelli and subsequent media focus on alleged signals from Mars.

Sources

A list of sources is provided, including books and articles on airship hysteria, UFOs, and military aviation, as well as various Danish newspapers.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently adopts a critical and analytical approach to UFO phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of skepticism towards sensational claims, such as the Roswell alien slides, favoring evidence-based explanations and historical context. The publication aims to debunk myths while acknowledging genuinely unexplained cases. The focus on historical UFO reports, particularly those from Scandinavia, suggests an interest in tracing the evolution of UFO beliefs and media influence over time. The magazine encourages readers to critically evaluate information and consider alternative explanations for aerial mysteries.

This document is a review of Nigel Watson's book, "UFO's of the First World War: Phantom Airships, Balloons, Aircraft and Other Mysterious Aerial Phenomena." The review, written by Thomas Brisson Jørgensen, appears in a Danish publication and highlights the book's significance as a comprehensive collection of early UFO-related incidents.

Book Review: UFO's of the First World War

The reviewer, Thomas Brisson Jørgensen, praises Nigel Watson's book for its substantial content, despite its relatively small paperback format and dense text. Watson, who has researched early UFO cases for over 30 years, presents a collection of observations from the period surrounding World War I. The book begins slightly before the war's outbreak, acknowledging the era of aviation breakthroughs. While the majority of cases are from English-speaking countries, the book also includes accounts from South Africa, Norway, and Denmark. A brief chapter is dedicated to the 1908 Danish airship wave, observed by Willy Wegner (referred to as Willy Wagner in the book).

The review notes that the observations from the WWI era often carry paranoid undertones, reflecting the general fear among populations due to the rapid development of aerial technology and the threat of invasion. Jørgensen suggests that some of these observations might have been fueled by mass hysteria or social panic, and Watson even posits that such panic could have contributed to the outbreak of war. The book explores how these aerial phenomena exacerbated already tense situations.

Recurring themes across different countries' observations include the notorious 'powerful searchlights' associated with airship sightings, which, despite potential explanations like bright stars or planets, were consistently described in similar ways. The review also points out striking parallels between these historical cases and modern UFO sightings, including descriptions of occupants, landings, crashes, and speculation about extraterrestrial visitors. The book is seen as laying out the foundational elements of modern UFO mythology.

Watson's approach is described as presenting a casebook rather than forcing a single explanatory model, leaning towards a psychosocial interpretation of ufology. The book's structure, with chronologically arranged cases and a thorough notes section documenting sources, makes it a valuable reference work.

Additional Content and Criticisms

The review mentions that the book briefly touches upon other unique elements like 'ghost cars' from Germany, variations of the 'Angels of Mons' legend, and the Fatima observations in Portugal. It also includes the debunked story of the Red Baron shooting down a flying saucer in 1917 and myths that emerged after Kenneth Arnold's 1947 sighting, which the reviewer felt could have been omitted.

A desire for a more global perspective is expressed, acknowledging that language barriers likely prevent similar cases from China, Japan, and other regions from being included. This is presented as a wish for future studies rather than a criticism of Watson's work.

Conclusion

Overall, the book is highly recommended for anyone interested in historical UFOs, UFO mythology, and instances of social panic. It is considered a substantial work that will be a key reference for years to come.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes identified are the consistent descriptions of aerial phenomena, particularly 'searchlights,' across different regions and times, and the strong parallels between early 20th-century sightings and modern UFO reports. The reviewer's stance is one of appreciation for the book's thorough research and its contribution to understanding the historical context of UFO phenomena, while also suggesting areas for future exploration, such as a broader global scope. The editorial stance of the publication, as inferred from the review, seems to be one that acknowledges and investigates unexplained aerial phenomena and their societal impact.