UFO-Norge Nytt - 1979 No 1

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO-NORGE-NYTT
Issue: Nr. I
Volume: 1979
Date: March 1979
Publisher: Riksorganisasjonen UFO-NORGE
Country: Norway
Language: Norwegian

This issue of UFO-Norge-Nytt marks the beginning of a new publication for the recently formed Riksorganisasjonen UFO-NORGE. The magazine serves as an internal news and contact organ for the national organization, aiming to be a forum for members and groups across Norway. The editor, Knut Aasheim, expresses his pleasure in launching this organ and encourages members to submit questions, viewpoints, and material of interest. The publication intends to cover UFO news, official announcements, and information from the organization's council (Rådet), groups, and individuals. It also plans to explore related fields like fringe science and parapsychology.

The Birth of UFO-Norge

The editorial highlights the formation of UFO-Norge as a response to a long-felt need for a different approach to UFO work. The organization was initiated by seven council members and has already seen a surge in UFO interest following media coverage in early 1979, including a film on Dagsrevyen and numerous newspaper reports of sightings over Eastern Norway in January and February. The organization aims to make itself known nationwide and encourages members to help recruit new members. An information leaflet is available upon request.

The editor emphasizes the vastness of the UFO phenomenon and the need to select relevant information for newcomers. His personal interest in UFOs spans over 20 years, driven by the profound possibility of extraterrestrial visitation and surveillance.

General Orientation of UFO-Norge

UFO-Norge emerged in January 1979, becoming the third active UFO organization in Norway, alongside Norsk UFO Center (NUFOC) and Fremmedvitenskaplig Informasjon (FI). The organization acknowledges differing views on UFOs among enthusiasts in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, which have led to the formation of various groups. UFO-Norge states it is not a breakaway group but a natural result of a longer process and a desire for a different working method. Its stated goals are:

• To collect, process, and study all available information about UFOs in Norway.
• To conduct information activities about UFOs for members and the public, promoting understanding of UFOs as a reality.
• To create and facilitate contact between UFO-interested persons and groups, both domestically and internationally.

The organization intends to establish local groups throughout Norway and prioritize information dissemination to the public. It also seeks cooperation with other UFO groups. UFO-Norge has a junior department for ages 12-18 and will keep members informed through an internal newsletter. It has also arranged to distribute the Danish magazine 'UFO-ASPEKT' to its members.

The recent UFO activity over Eastern Norway in January and February has significantly boosted interest, coinciding with UFO-Norge's launch. As an initial offer, the organization arranged an excursion to the Oslo University solar observatory on February 17-18.

1979: A UFO Year?

The issue speculates whether 1979 will be a significant year for UFOs, noting the promising start. It details the widely reported UFO film from New Zealand on December 30, 1978, which gained international attention. The film, lasting 7 minutes, was reportedly shot by the same team again on January 3, 1979. Explanations offered by experts included ball lightning, plasma, false radar echoes, and Venus, but the article questions these, noting that false radar echoes cannot be photographed and Venus was visible as the evening star.

Other explanations included spotlights from Japanese fishing boats and insect swarms. The article criticizes these theories for ignoring the eyewitness accounts and the simultaneous visual, radar, and ground station observations, as well as the objects' reported intelligent control and extreme maneuvers.

A report from the New Zealand Air Force on January 25 dismissed the possibility of extraterrestrial visits or threats from hostile nations, stating there was no air activity posing a threat to national security. The article notes the similarity of this wording to past reports from the US Air Force, suggesting inter-service communication within NATO and SEATO.

International Sightings

Australia: The disappearance of Fredrick Valentin on October 21 while flying a Cessna between Tasmania and mainland Australia is mentioned. He reported being followed by a "shining aircraft with a green light and a metallic exterior."

Israel: On January 5, luminous objects were reported over Israel. Newspapers mentioned a red sphere over Haifa, described as "10 times larger than a basketball," moving faster than a jet. In Jerusalem, police officers reportedly saw three mysterious objects hovering, described as glittering diamonds, moving up and down.

South Africa: On January 6, a woman and her 12-year-old son reported an encounter with six dark-skinned beings near a UFO described as "lead-colored and egg-shaped." The beings appeared friendly, and one attempted to communicate with the mother.

England: On January 18, a debate on UFOs occurred in the House of Lords, initiated by the Earl of Clancarty, who urged the government to take UFOs seriously and establish a committee to study the phenomenon. He expressed concern about potential public panic if UFOs were to land en masse. Lord Clancarty, a prolific UFO author, was supported by Lord Kimberley, who noted that ten governments openly acknowledged UFO existence. Despite a five-hour debate, the proposal for a state UFO commission was narrowly defeated.

Norwegian Sightings

Eastern Norway: The beginning of the year saw significant UFO activity in Norway. Between January 3-4, at least 10 people in Romerike observed an oblong, slow-moving object with shifting colors. On the night of January 4, a man in Dal, Eidsvoll, reported seeing a broad, white luminous band. On the same evening, two men in Follebu saw a round, bluish object. The following morning, students in Ski observed a cigar-shaped luminous object.

On January 8, the editor himself observed a cigar-shaped object moving southwest. Another witness in Holter, Nannestad, reported a similar cigar-shaped object with a blinking red light underneath.

Dal, Eidsvoll: On January 11, a woman reported being woken by a loud bang and a humming sound that varied in intensity, suggesting an object moving nearby.

Dokken, Eidsvoll: On January 18, two girls saw a luminous phenomenon for about 15 minutes, initially appearing as four yellowish-white lights that changed character and eventually disappeared eastward.

Hurdalssjøen: Two days later, a skier observed a cigar-shaped object moving slowly northward over Hadelandsåsene.

Redalen: On January 26, two men saw an object with blinking lights of various colors.

Magnor and Eidsvoll: On February 6, witnesses observed a strange phenomenon involving an orange ring, a disc-shaped object with a sphere, and a wavy stripe. Simultaneously, a long cigar-shaped object was seen moving slowly southwest near Eidsvoll.

Power Outages: The issue raises the question of a possible link between UFO phenomena and widespread power outages experienced in Eastern Norway around February 6. While a faulty relay was cited as the cause, ufologists question this explanation, citing previous cases where UFOs were observed near areas experiencing power disruptions.

UFO Types and Characteristics

The magazine includes illustrations and descriptions of various UFO types, including "Adamski-type" saucers, large "mothership" saucers, cigar-shaped objects, and cylindrical objects. These are described as having been observed multiple times and exhibit characteristics such as intelligent control, rapid acceleration, and hovering capabilities.

Predictions about UFOs

A section titled "Predictions about UFOs" references a Norwegian weekly magazine featuring predictions from a renowned American psychic. These predictions include a new episode with a "foreign submarine" in Norwegian waters coinciding with a UFO sighting over land, suggesting a possible connection between the two phenomena.

UFOs and Submarine Objects (USOs)

The article discusses the frequent reports of submarine objects (USOs) in Norwegian fjords, particularly mentioning an incident in Sognefjorden in November 1972. It suggests that some reported submarine encounters might actually be USOs or UFOs operating underwater. UFO researcher John A. Keel is cited as claiming that many submarine hunts worldwide over the past 20 years involved UFOs or USOs, especially in Arctic regions and Scandinavian fjords.

UFOs and Private Radio (P.R.)

This section introduces private radio (P.R.) as a means for UFO enthusiasts to communicate. It describes how Jan Søreide, Frank Haug, and others reportedly made radio contact with a UFO on September 9, 1978, after sending signals. The article explains the basics of P.R. equipment, frequencies, legal requirements in Norway, and costs. It highlights the utility of P.R. for UFO-Norge members to share observations and news, encouraging members to obtain P.R. equipment to help cover Norway.

UFO-Norge's Emblem and Activities

The design of the UFO-Norge emblem is explained, incorporating elements like concentric ovals, a horizontal and vertical line forming a cross (representing a blink or flight instrument), and a UFO silhouette inspired by Adamski's "saucer" shape. The ellipse form is based on Piet Hein's "Super-ellipse." The emblem's stylized human figure symbolizes the goal of achieving contact with extraterrestrial civilizations.

Notices include upcoming UFO articles in the weekly magazine 'ALLERS', an initiative to establish international cooperation for UFO observation data collection, the formation of the first local group in Trondheim, and recent UFO observations near Jevnaker and Eidsvoll.

A "VIKTIG MELDING" (Important Announcement) details the first ordinary meeting for UFO-Norge members on April 25th at 19:30 in Eidsvoll. The meeting will include an orientation, a film program with science-fiction movies, a break with refreshments, and a discussion. A fee of Kr. 10 is charged for refreshments. Members are encouraged to bring interested friends.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the establishment and promotion of UFO-Norge as a national organization, the reporting of numerous UFO sightings both domestically and internationally, and the exploration of the UFO phenomenon's nature and potential implications. The editorial stance is one of open inquiry and a belief in the reality of UFOs and potential extraterrestrial contact. The magazine encourages active participation from its members, emphasizing the importance of collecting and sharing information. There is a clear effort to legitimize UFO research by referencing scientific concepts, international cooperation, and the potential for technological applications (like private radio for communication).