UFO-Nytt - 1977 No 2

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO NYTT
Issue: 2-77
Date: February 1977 (inferred from issue number)
Publisher: Not specified
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish

This issue of UFO NYTT, identified by the code '2-77', focuses on two main areas: historical disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle and a detailed account of a UFO sighting over the Canary Islands in 1976, supported by Spanish military documentation.

Bermuda Triangle: A History of Disappearances

The article begins by examining the phenomenon of disappearances within the Bermuda Triangle. It provides a historical overview of naval incidents, listing several ships and aircraft that vanished under mysterious circumstances. The focus is on vessels belonging to the American Navy and other maritime forces.

Key incidents detailed include:

• USS 'Insurgen': Disappeared in August 1800 with 340 men on board.
• USS 'Scorpion': The most recent mystery mentioned, this American submarine vanished in May 1968 with 99 men. Its wreck was eventually located at a depth of 3200 meters, 740 km southeast of the Azores, indicating it was not a complete disappearance but a loss.
• USS 'Pickering': Lost on August 20, 1800, with 90 men aboard, en route from New Castle, Delaware, to Guadeloupe in the West Indies.
• USS 'Wasp': Sank on October 9, 1814, with 140 men.
• USS 'Wild Cat': Disappeared on October 28, 1824, while traveling from Cuba to Thomsonön with 14 men.
• HMS 'Atalanta': The British ship vanished in January 1880 with 290 men, many of whom were cadets. Extensive searches yielded no results.
• USS 'Cyclops': Disappeared on March 4, 1918, en route from Barbados to Norfolk with 309 people. This case is highlighted as one of the most publicized disappearances during World War I. Theories at the time included the possibility of it being sunk by German U-boats or encountering mines, but later German records did not confirm this. Another theory suggested a mutiny onboard due to the captain's alleged sadism. A British ship, also named 'Cyclops', was torpedoed by German U-boats in the North Atlantic. The American 'Cyclops' was carrying manganese ore, and German intelligence agents later claimed to have planted timed bombs in the cargo, though this was never proven.

The article notes that searches for 'Atalanta' continued until May without success, and similar extensive, often fruitless, searches became common for subsequent disappearances.

UFO on Uvberget: A Local Observation Event

This section reports on a UFO observation event held on Uvberget near Smedjebacken, Sweden, on a Saturday evening and into Sunday morning. Approximately 40 members from five different UFO clubs (Ludvika, Smedjebacken, Söderbärke, Falun, Gävle, and Vikmanshyttan) participated. The event included discussions, training in aerial surveillance, and group formations.

Gudrun Andersson, chairperson of Bärke UFO-förening, stated that while not many observations were made, the meeting was very successful for members to connect, discuss events, and exchange experiences. The participants also took the opportunity to study the stars, with some members being amateur astronomers. Radio contact was made with the UFO association in Köping, which was also conducting an observation evening. Andersson noted a growing public interest in their activities, with more private individuals reporting sightings.

Several individuals shared their thoughts:

• Gunvor Spännar (Malung) expressed skepticism about flying saucer stories but acknowledged that some accounts seemed interesting.
• Mats Hanspers (Nusnäs) suggested that if other planets are interested in us, it's reasonable to believe they might visit, but stopped short of fully endorsing the idea of flying saucers.
• Lars Andersson (Borlänge) stated he was quite sure something exists and that every report warrants investigation, though not every case is necessarily inexplicable.

A brief mention is made of a 'mysterious object' landing and a red light seen in the sky, accompanied by a strange sound, as reported in a local newspaper.

Canary Islands: A Military UFO Dossier

The longest and most detailed section of the magazine focuses on a case from the Canary Islands, dated June 22, 1976, based on a 'dossier' handed over by a lieutenant colonel from the Spanish Air Force Ministry to journalist and UFO author Juan José Benitez. This document, comprising 78 pages, reportedly contains information on twelve UFO cases involving the Spanish military, including interviews, color photos, and films.

The dossier covers incidents from March 20, 1964, in Seville, to June 22, 1976, in Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria. The article highlights the final case, providing new details and conclusions.

The Observation of June 22, 1976:

• Corvette 'Atrevida' Observation: At 21:27 (z) on June 22, 1976, the Spanish corvette 'Atrevida', located 3 nautical miles northwest and 180 degrees from Punta Lantailla (southeast of Fuerteventura), observed a yellow-blue light source. Initially thought to be an aircraft landing light, it ascended to an altitude of approximately 15-18 degrees, stopped, and then the light vanished. The source remained stationary for about two minutes, followed by a large yellow-blue ring that was visible for 40 minutes. Two minutes before the ring appeared, the main light source split into two parts; the smaller part remained stationary while the larger part ascended in spiral movements and disappeared. The article includes diagrams illustrating these sequences (Secuencia A, B, C).

• Ground Witness Testimony: Around 21:30, eleven people, including a doctor from Guia (Gran Canaria), witnessed a large blue sphere approximately 50 meters away and two meters above the ground in an area called 'Las Rosas'. Dr. Francisco Julio Padrón León, along with a taxi driver (Francisco Estevez) and the son of a sick woman (Santiago del Pino), investigated the sighting.

Dr. Padrón described the event: As they approached a curve near the village, they saw a perfect sphere about sixty meters from the car. The taxi stopped, and they observed two incredibly large beings inside the sphere, estimated to be between 2.80 and 3.00 meters tall. They had black helmets and red clothing, with hand coverings resembling fins. The beings appeared to be manipulating panels. Dr. Padrón noted their large back heads. The sphere was described as transparent, light blue at the edges, and about the size of a two-story house. It had an oval circle on top and a silver platform with three tilted panels below. The beings' movements were described as if they were working with the panels.

The witnesses felt cold, and the taxi driver tried to restart the car. The radio had stopped working, but the car had power. The UFO then lifted off, reaching the height of a nearby house. A translucent tube on the sphere's upper part emitted a bluish gas that appeared to grow larger. The witnesses became frightened and drove away. The sphere continued to grow, but the beings and panels remained unchanged. After reaching an altitude of about 20 meters, the object moved at high speed towards the island of Tenerife.

• Other Sightings and Effects: The report mentions an unrelated incident on the night of June 24, where a UFO landed in a field, burning out all the onions within a 30-meter radius. The object seen over the Canary Islands was also sighted minutes later by many people in Puerto de la Cruz and by passengers and crew of a Spanish ferry. Thousands of people on the islands of La Palma, Gomera, and Hierro also saw the object, contacting the press and radio. Technicians from the Spanish TV station in Izaña (Tenerife) also witnessed the same sphere.

Spanish Military UFO Dossier Contents:

The article lists the chronological contents of the military UFO dossier, including:

• March 20, 1964: Seville
• June 3, 1967: Central Spanish airspace
• December 19, 1968: Madrid
• February 25, 1969: 'Iberia' flight between Palma de Mallorca and Madrid
• September 26, 1969: Gerona
• February 23, 1971: Northeastern Spanish airspace
• September 26, 1973: Military night flight
• November 24, 1975: Gran Canaria
• January 1, 1975: Near Burgos
• January 2, 1975: Bardenas Reales firing range (near Burgos)
• January 14, 1975: Radar screen from G.C.A. Reaplanskolan
• June 22, 1976: Canary Islands

The source of the information is cited as A.A.OVNIS, with contact details for Martin F. Villarán in Portugalete, Spain. The translation is credited to Juan Manzanares of Ludvika UFO förening.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on UFO phenomena, presenting both historical accounts and contemporary sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation, giving credence to witness testimony and official reports, particularly those involving military documentation. The publication aims to inform its readers about UFO events, historical mysteries, and the ongoing efforts to understand these phenomena. There is a clear emphasis on detailed reporting, including dates, locations, witness accounts, and physical descriptions of objects and beings. The inclusion of a Spanish military dossier suggests a commitment to presenting evidence that may have been previously classified or overlooked.

Title: Bergslagsposten
Issue Date: Wednesday, April 27, 1977
Content Type: Newspaper article about a UFO organization.

Ludvika UFO-förening Plans Broad Activity

The Ludvika UFO-förening, an organization in Ludvika dedicated to the study of unidentified flying objects (UFOs), has organized a public meeting in its new meeting location at Tre krokars gata 13. The meeting on Monday evening attracted around thirty interested individuals in addition to fifteen UFO members.

Juan Manzanares, one of the organizers, explained that the purpose of the meeting was to inform the public about the issues the organization engages with. He highlighted the acquisition of a dedicated meeting space, which will be open every Monday evening for anyone interested in UFO literature and discussions. The organization aims to attract new members, particularly among young people.

Beyond UFO discussions, the association plans to expand its activities to include other subjects. Manzanares stated, "We will, however, not only discuss UFOs. We will together learn more about, for example, astrology." These activities will be conducted through organized study circles, which are scheduled to take place every Tuesday.

Starting next term, the organization will enhance its program by hosting information evenings every other week. Themed evenings are also planned, where various subjects will be explored with expert speakers. During the Monday meeting, a slideshow about UFOs, borrowed from the UFO-förening in Köping, was presented. The evening concluded with UFO members answering numerous questions from the attendees.

Ludvika UFO-förening - Proposed Activity Plan and Program for Autumn 1977

The document also includes a detailed proposed activity plan and program for the Ludvika UFO-förening for the autumn of 1977. The plan outlines a series of events from August to December:

• August: Annual meeting on the 19th, followed by an "OB-Evening" (likely an open or informational evening) in Örngården on the 26th, and a study circle on the 30th.
• September: Study circles on the 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th. An OB-Evening in Örngården on the 9th. A UFO film screening for the public on the 12th. A presentation with a slide film in Högbergskolan on a day during week 37.
• October: A film on Astronomy for the public on the 3rd. Study circles on the 4th, 11th, 17th, and 25th. An OB-Evening in Örngården on the 21st.
• November: A study circle on the 1st. An OB-Evening in Örngården on the 4th. A film screening (Geology or Archeology) for the public on the 7th. Study circles on the 8th and 15th (the last one). An OB-Evening in Ömgården on the 18th.
• December: A film screening (The Sea - The Earth) for the public on the 28th. A UFO meeting in Örngården with sausage, coffee, and a raffle on the 2nd.

The Ludvika UFO-förening's local at Tre Krokarsgatan 13 will open from Monday, August 22nd, between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM. Those wishing to suggest changes or add new proposals are encouraged to do so promptly, preferably before August 19th, 1977, by sending their suggestions to Ludvika UFO-förening, Box 71, 771 01 Ludvika.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine article focuses on the proactive efforts of the Ludvika UFO-förening to engage the local community, particularly youth, in discussions and learning about UFOs and related subjects like astrology and astronomy. The tone is informative and supportive of the organization's outreach initiatives, presenting their plans and activities in a straightforward manner. The article highlights the establishment of a physical meeting space and a structured program of events, indicating a commitment to regular public engagement.