UFO-Nytt - 1977 No 1

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO-Nytt
Issue: 1-77
Date: 1977
Publisher: Arbetsgruppen för ufologi (Working Group for Ufology)

This issue of UFO-Nytt, a Swedish publication focused on UFO phenomena, provides a comprehensive look at UFO activities and reports from Sweden in late 1976 and early 1977, alongside a discussion of the mysterious Bermuda Triangle.

Program for Spring 1977

The magazine outlines the planned activities for the spring of 1977 by UFO organizations. These include:

• March 19: UFO-riksstämma (National UFO Conference) in Malmö.
• March 25: Observation evening at Örngården in Räfsnäs.
• April 15: Report from the National Conference in Malmö and the observation evening of March 25th. A report technique covering interview-observation-report work material is also mentioned, with the location for this being Tre Krokars Gata 15 (Unga Örnar).
• April 22-23: Observation evenings in Söderbärke or Ludvika.
• May 7: Reports from the observation evenings, followed by a lecture on Astronomy at Örngården in Räfsnäs.
• May 20: UFO-Bärke employees will be present at Örngården in Räfsnäs, with UFO-Bärke organizing the program.
• June 3: Spring closing event at Örngården in Räfsnäs, including preparations for the annual meeting, with grilled sausages and light beer.

Members are informed that program changes may occur and will be communicated.

Study Circles and Association Library

Study circles are being initiated in UFO and Astronomy, with meetings held every Tuesday at Tre Krokars Gata 15. The Ludvika UFO-förening has acquired books for its members, who can borrow them from the librarian, Georg Jansson, reachable at Aspvägen 7, tel 13203. The librarian can be met during study circles and other gatherings.

Bärke U.F.O. Förening Report (1976)

The Bärke U.F.O. Förening reported on its activities in 1976:

• Observation Evenings: Held 8 observation evenings in the latter months of 1976. On November 13th, they hosted an event with Köping and Ludvika UFO associations, attracting about 100 people. Radio contact was made with various groups across the country.
• Information Meetings: Conducted 3 information meetings during the same period in Smedjebacken (approx. 15 people), Ludvika (approx. 200 people), and Mockfjärd (approx. 35 people).
• Board Meetings: Held 2 board meetings on June 29th and September 23rd, 1976.
• Excursion: On October 30th, Bärke and Ludvika UFO associations went on an excursion to Lake Norra Hörken near Grängesberg. They investigated reports of large stones moving towards the lake shore, concluding that ice was the likely cause.
• Interviews: Conducted 10 interviews with individuals who had witnessed UFOs.
• Alarm System: Bärke and Ludvika UFO associations operate an alarm system in southern Dalarna, coordinating with other groups nationwide.
• Observation in Smedjebacken: On October 22nd, 1976, a member in Smedjebacken observed a red object. A phone chain was initiated, and two members in Ludvika UFO witnessed the object pass over their homes in Hagge.
• Formation and Membership: Bärke U.F.O. Förening was founded on June 29th, 1976, with 30 members. The annual membership fee is 15 SEK per family.
• Leadership: The chairman is Gudrun Andersson.

Ludvika UFO-Förening Report (1976)

The Ludvika UFO-förening reported on its activities in the fourth quarter of 1976:

• Observations: Held 6 observation evenings in October, November, and December 1976.
• Joint Event: On November 13th, they co-hosted an observation evening with Köping and Bärke UFO associations, attended by approximately 100 people, and established radio contact with national groups.
• Information Meetings: Conducted 4 information meetings during the same period:
• August 28: Members' meeting (25 people).
• August 30: Information at the Teacher's College in Falun (35 people).
• November 13: Information at the School Hall in Köping, with participation from Bärke UFO-föreningar (200 people).
• November 27: Information at the Higher Education Hall in Mockfjärd (35 people).
• Board Meetings: Held 4 board meetings in the autumn of 1976.
• Excursion: On October 30th, they joined Bärke UFO-föreningar for an excursion to Lake Norra Hörken in Grängesberg to investigate reports of moving stones, attributing the phenomenon to ice.
• Interviews: Conducted 5 interviews with UFO witnesses, with recordings available.
• Observation in Smedjebacken: On October 22nd, 1976, a member of UFO Bärke observed a red object, initiating a phone chain. Two members of Ludvika UFO witnessed the object pass over their homes in Hagge.
• Formation and Membership: Ludvika UFO-Förening was founded on August 27th, 1976, with approximately 40 members. The annual membership fee is 15 SEK per family. Meetings are held at the Unga Örnar premises on Tre Krokars Gata 15. They have not yet secured their own premises. Observation evenings take place at Örngården in Räfsnäs.

The Bermuda Triangle

The article discusses the Bermuda Triangle, an area in the western Atlantic Ocean where numerous aircraft and ships have disappeared over 30 years, causing increasing fear among travelers. It questions the nature of the mysterious force responsible, suggesting possibilities like sunken meteors or 'Flying Saucers'.

• Disappearances: Many aircraft vanished while in normal radio contact. Some reported strange observations before disappearing, such as instruments malfunctioning, compasses spinning, and unusual sky colors.
• Flight 19 Incident (December 1945): A group of 5 US Navy planes disappeared during a routine flight. A rescue plane sent to search for them also vanished without a trace. The planes lost orientation, and their compasses failed.
• Criticism of Charles Berlitz: Charles Berlitz's book on the Bermuda Triangle is criticized by Lawrence Kusche, who argues that the incidents are not mysterious and that Berlitz's accounts are inaccurate. Kusche points out that some pilots were inexperienced, and the group leader was new.
• 1973 Eastern Airlines Crash: Berlitz's explanation for a 1973 crash near Miami, attributed to atmospheric or magnetic anomalies, is also questioned.
• Growing Awareness: There is a growing public awareness that something is amiss in the region, leading to a new folklore of incredible experiences reported by survivors.
• Historical Cases: The article mentions the disappearance of the French ship 'Rosalie' in 1840, found with sails set but no crew or passengers, only a canary.

Extraterrestrial Beings Near Lake Bäsingen?

An individual from Avesta reports seeing a square-shaped object, described as a large bus without wings, hovering silently about a meter above the ground near Lake Bäsingen. The object appeared and disappeared without sound. The witness has rigged up a camera to capture photographic evidence.

Study Circle on Devil Worship

A study circle in Grängesberg, titled 'What Should One Believe?', will explore topics related to spiritualism, telepathy, and horoscopes. It will also delve into occult matters and flying objects, with a focus on the 'Devil's Church' originating from the USA. The circle, led by ministers Esbjörn Hagberg and Crvar Homman, aims to understand the psychological needs these movements fulfill and their relationship to Christianity.

Flying Saucer Towards Ludvika?

Ester Larsson from Säter reports seeing a bright red, round object, estimated to be 60 centimeters in diameter, hovering in the air near Bispbergshyttan. The object, described as a red sun, disappeared towards Rutbo, leaving a red streak. She connects this sighting to a previous report of a similar object seen by a snowplow driver near Fredriksberg.

UFO Investigation in Fredriksberg

On a Tuesday, UFO enthusiasts, including DD (the publication), investigated the terrain near Fredriksberg for traces of a flying object reported by chauffeur Bertil Tillman. Despite a search in 120 cm of snow, no evidence was found, only fox tracks. Tillman had reported seeing a red luminous object land outside Fredriksberg on Sunday.

• Investigation Results: The search yielded no results, with UFO members looking for signs like broken branches or snow-free areas.
• Further Interviews: UFO members plan to interview Bertil Tillman to gather more data before classifying the event.
• UFO Ludvika's Success: UFO-Ludvika, though only seven months old, has received the most UFO observations in Sweden.
• Possible Link to Mining: Juan Manzanares, UFO-ordförande, speculates about a connection between UFO sightings in the Ludvika region and mining activities, noting similar patterns in America.
• Scientific vs. Unexplained: The article notes that while scientific explanations are sought, the persistence of unexplained phenomena fuels public interest.

Phenomenon Seen in Dala-Järna

Eivor Nilsson from Snöborg, Järna, reported seeing a blood-red luminous object moving across the sky towards Nås, in the direction of Fredriksberg, around 5:40 PM on Sunday. She found it difficult to estimate its speed but noted it was larger than the brightest stars.

Saucer Over Björbo?

Ingrid Holman from Björbo reported seeing a blinking object on Sunday afternoon, around 4 PM, coming from the direction of Fredriksberg and continuing towards Leksand. The timing of this sighting matches Bertil Tillman's observation near Fredriksberg.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings and investigations in Sweden, the activities of local UFO organizations (Bärke and Ludvika UFO-föreningar), and the enduring mystery of the Bermuda Triangle. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, documenting witness accounts and organizational efforts while also critically examining claims, as seen in the discussion of Charles Berlitz's work. There's a notable curiosity about potential connections between UFO phenomena and local factors like mining.