UFO-Norway News - 1989 No 1

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO-NORWAY NEWS
Issue: No. 1
Year: 1989
Publisher: UFO-NORWAY
Country: Norway
Language: English
ISSN: 0802-2453
Price: NOK 15,- (Norway), NOK 20,- (Europe), NOK 25,- (Elsewhere) per issue.

This issue marks a new phase for UFO-Norway News, now published independently by UFO-Norway following the cessation of cooperation with former partners in Sweden and Finland. The publication aims to focus on Norwegian UFO cases. The magazine is published 1-2 times a year and is available on an exchange basis or via subscription. The editor is Mentz Kaarbø, and correspondence should be directed to the editorial address in Bergen. UFO-Norway also publishes a national periodical titled "UFO" (UFO-Norge) twice a year.

From the Editor

The editor, Mentz Kaarbø, explains that due to various reasons, cooperation with former partners in Sweden and Finland has ended, leading this issue to be solely devoted to Norwegian cases. However, a recent agreement with the Swedish group 'Archives for UFO Research' (AFU) will allow for the publication of material from their files in subsequent issues. This issue features an article on general aspects of ufology and attitudes among ufologists, a speculative article about a CE-III case from Sweden in 1955, and two articles detailing 'ordinary' observations from Norway in the preceding two years.

Contents

• UFOs and Mysticism
• UFO in Misvær
• Strange Sightings in Gudbrandsdalen
• Did a Man From Outer space Die in Sweden in 1955?

UFOS AND MYSTICISM by Hans Kristian Moe

This article, written by a leading member of UFO-Norge, reviews the means and goals for the 'common ufologist' and offers critical remarks on ufology over the last 40 years. Moe questions how ufology can generate interest from the public and whether it needs to 'prostitute' itself. He argues that serious ufology is facing difficult times, defined as ufology that uses accepted scientific methods. The author notes that the UFO community often lacks discipline, leading to uncritical acceptance of hypotheses and a tendency for fantasy to run wild, which frightens away scientific resources. The article highlights the need for money to fund investigations and disseminate information, noting that many UFO organizations publish magazines for their members. A major problem identified is the lack of significant new developments in the UFO enigma over the past 40 years, leading to boredom among the public and declining sales of UFO magazines. Moe suggests that the UFO community's interest in phenomena not explained by established science might stem from a 'Rebel' or 'Doubting Thomas' inclination. He criticizes the tendency for parts of the UFO community to seek 'new horizons to fantasy,' questioning if UFOs are telepathic projections, emissions from superintelligences, visitations from the past or future, connected to pyramid power, or related to Atlantis or the Bermuda Triangle. The article also touches upon the idea of UFO occupants watching humanity and UFOs as manifestations of divine powers. While acknowledging the value of open-mindedness to various hypotheses, Moe stresses the importance of grounding them in observations. He presents a hypothetical case of a single witness seeing a light while another sees nothing, suggesting explanations like hallucination or telepathic projection. He advocates for applying conventional scientific principles to UFO investigations, cautioning against exploiting mystical and speculative aspects, which he believes will ultimately be detrimental to ufology.

UFO IN MISVER by Mentz Kaarbø

This article details a strange aerial phenomenon observed on Sunday, March 6, 1988, near Misvær, Norway. The event, lasting 15-20 minutes, was witnessed by Brynhild Vestli Pedersen and Per Olav Pedersen. The sighting occurred between 05:00 and 05:30 AM, over Lake Gjømmervatn, approximately 30 km southeast of Bodø. Brynhild Pedersen was awakened by a noisy engine roar, described as resembling a chainsaw. She then saw a blue-white light outside, shining on the ice-covered lake. Upon going outside, she observed an intense point of light in the air, originating from a hexagonal object. The object had a central point source emitting blue-white rays, with blinking red and green lights at its edges. After about 15 minutes, the object moved away in a zig-zag course, with a 'chain' of red lights hanging down. Per Olav Pedersen, her husband, also observed the light through binoculars, describing it as a powerful star. The object then withdrew in a wobbling, irregular pattern, ascending and descending, and was visible even as daylight began to grow. The witnesses considered explanations like an airliner or snowscooter but found them far-fetched. They noted the absence of sound from the object itself, despite the initial engine roar. The Air Force and the regional Rescue Center in Bodø confirmed no activity in the area at that time. A UFO-Norge representative noted that this observation fits a pattern of similar hexagonal-shaped UFOs seen elsewhere in Norway, with unusual engine sounds being a recurring comment. Another witness in Kasmo reported seeing a powerful light-source descend and disappear near Lake Gjømmervatnet. Astronomical data for the period is provided, including sunrise/sunset times and planetary positions.

STRANGE SIGHTINGS IN GUDBRANDSDALEN by Per Ottesen

This article reports on a sighting that occurred on Friday, November 6, 1987, between 02:00 and 02:30 AM, in the Gudbrandsdalen valley, between Tretten and Fåvang. The observation lasted approximately 30 minutes and was made by Anny and Line Favang, a mother and daughter. The Gudbrandsdalen valley has previously reported UFO 'waves'. The witnesses were driving when Line noticed her mother slowing down. Anny directed her attention to a light in the sky, which she had been watching for a while. Initially thought to be a plane due to visible windows, it was soon realized to be something else. Both witnesses observed the light, which moved in a stepwise manner with fast movements and intermittent halts, approaching closer. It appeared as an inverted 'hat' or 'soup plate' made up of lightpoints, with about two lights on top and four underneath. Two 'crabclaw'-like appendages with tiny, blinking lights were observed hanging down from the object. The object then turned a strange, dark green color before returning to white light. It shifted position between south and southwest, appearing above a ridge. The witnesses felt intensely 'watched' and attempted to communicate by flashing their car lights without success. Suddenly, a yellow disc, larger than the full moon, emerged from the object and moved rapidly towards the car, causing the witnesses to scream. The disc made a turn and disappeared. The clouds were illuminated by the yellow light. The object then moved west, disappeared for about 5 minutes, possibly behind clouds, and reappeared, moving further up the valley before finally vanishing. The weather was cloudy with fast-drifting clouds, allowing glimpses of the moon. The witnesses were tired but became wide awake and excited during the sighting.

Did a Man From Outer space Die in Sweden in 1955?

This article is mentioned in the table of contents but its content is not provided in the scanned pages.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the nature and direction of ufology as a discipline, the challenges of maintaining scientific rigor, and the reporting of specific UFO sightings within Norway. The editorial stance, as expressed by Mentz Kaarbø, emphasizes a commitment to serious ufology that adheres to scientific principles, while cautioning against the speculative and mystical elements that can detract from credible investigation. The magazine aims to provide a platform for Norwegian UFO cases and potentially draw from international archives, fostering a more grounded approach to the UFO phenomenon.

This issue of UFO-Aspekt, dated 1977, focuses on extraordinary UFO-related events, particularly a controversial case from Sweden in 1955 and other sightings in Norway. The magazine presents witness testimonies, drawings, and analyses of these phenomena, aiming to shed light on the more bizarre aspects of ufology.

The 1955 Swedish UFO Incident: 'Did a Man from Outer Space Die in Sweden?'

The central story of this issue details a highly unusual event from 1955 in Västernorrland, Sweden. An anonymous witness, working as a forest worker, recounts an encounter with a cigar-shaped object that flew in a zig-zag pattern and appeared to be making a forced landing. The object crashed near a river, followed by an intense, ear-deafening light that made the surroundings visible as if through an X-ray, and a vacuum wave that threw the witnesses around.

After the event, the witness and two brothers went to the crash site. They found no wreckage but discovered a dwarf-like figure in a uniform. This being, later described as severely hurt with yellowish skin, deep black eyes, and unusual physical characteristics (shark-fin earlobes, flat canine teeth), spoke perfect Swedish. He revealed that he was 'crushed' inside his suit and that he was from a place near the constellation Aquila. He provided a small, rectangular object with depressions and asked to be placed in the river with a sack, stating that after his death, he would disappear and that his home was thousands of light years away.

The witness described the occupant's uniform as reddish metal, vibrating, and self-illuminating, with a light blue buckle that turned dark blue after the occupant's death. The occupant's last words were a cryptic message about coming against his will and passing away without wishing it, comparing life to steam.

The witness kept this story secret for many years, fearing ridicule, and only shared it after seeing slides related to UFO occupants. He presented a piece of metal, described as a hairpin, as proof of the encounter, stating that a metal fork was found at the location.

Additional Observations from Norway

The magazine also includes reports from Norway. During the first week of 1988, a man from Gausdal claimed to have seen strange phenomena for three consecutive nights, resembling the 'first phase' of a November 6 sighting. Mrs. Anny Hammervold also reported seeing the same phenomenon, confirming the event with a friend. These independent reports from opposite sides of a mountain suggest something extraordinary was occurring in the Gudbrandsdalen valley.

Furthermore, the issue features drawings by Line Hammervold, illustrating observed objects. One drawing depicts an object shining in white light, which briefly turned green. Another shows lights blinking or pulsating downwards. A third drawing illustrates a disc or sphere shining yellow and illuminating the entire cloud-covered sky.

Astronomical Data and Context

To provide context for the sightings, astronomical data is included. For the November 5th observation, details about the sunset and sunrise, as well as the moon's rise and set times, are provided. The planets' positions for Jupiter, Venus, Mars, and Saturn on November 5th are also noted.

Analysis and Editorial Stance

The magazine acknowledges the controversial nature of the Swedish story but includes it due to its alignment with classical CE-III (Close Encounter of the Third Kind) reports. The increasing public interest in ufology is noted, evidenced by the Danish UFO organisation Frit UFO Studium (FUFOS) having a large stand at an exhibition in Sweden in 1977.

The editor notes that the witness's narration was initially fragmentary and retold in chronological order for coherence. The translation from Norwegian by Mentz Kaarbø and Hilary Evans is acknowledged. An errata corrects the scale of maps used in previous issues.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, alien encounters, alleged extraterrestrial deaths, and the challenges of documenting and verifying such extraordinary claims. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into unusual phenomena, presenting detailed accounts and witness testimonies, while acknowledging the potential for ridicule and the need for careful analysis. The magazine aims to explore the 'bizarre aspects of ufology' and presents these stories as potentially genuine cases, even if controversial.