UFO-Nytt - 1985 No 1

Magazine Overview

This issue of Västerbergslagens UFO Nytt is the first of 1985, published by the Västerbergslagens UFO-förening. The magazine serves as a communication channel for its members, with the editorial stating that it is published four times a year. The cover prominently features the title 'UFO NYTT' alongside the organization's emblem and a stylized map of the Västerbergslagen region, indicating its local focus.

From the Editors (Från Redaktionen)

The editorial section, titled 'Från Redaktionen', wishes readers a Happy New Year and expresses hope for an interesting year filled with UFO events, particularly in the Dalarna region during January 1985. The editors appeal to readers who may know of others who have witnessed strange phenomena in January 1985 to contact the 'Undersökningsgruppen' (Investigation Group) via telephone numbers 0240/79146 or 0240/80082. They note that many people have seen things but are hesitant to speak about them.

The editorial also highlights a 'DALA REVY' (Dalarna Review) of UFO events and includes a question from Gudrun Andersson asking why members are not attending the organization's meetings and observation evenings. The annual meeting's activity report could not be included in this issue due to space constraints and will be published later. Readers are invited to submit articles about UFO events and other space-related topics to the Västerbergslagens UFO-förening, Box 771 01 Ludvika.

The editorial team consists of Bernt Berglund, Monica Eriksson, and Ingvar Kjällving. Membership fees for 1985 are 40 kronor, with a reduced rate of 25 kronor for those under 16. The postal address for the organization is Box 71 771 01 Ludvika.

UFO Sightings and Reports

'Tefatet' (The Saucer) - A Recurring Phenomenon

The magazine features several articles detailing UFO sightings, with a recurring theme of 'Tefatet' (The Saucer). A prominent article on page 3, titled 'Tefats-BILD IGEN!' (Saucer PICTURE AGAIN!), showcases a photograph taken by DD-photographer Benny Norgren on a Sunday evening. The object is described as a regularly shaped, reddish-yellow light that varied in intensity. Smaller light points were observed entering and exiting the main body, sometimes in a spiral. The luminous object was said to have a shape similar to the planet Venus but was significantly larger.

Roland Skog from Tiskbergsvägen in Falun reportedly saw the light and contacted DD. The phenomenon was observed from Galgberget over Hosjön in Falun throughout Sunday evening at irregular intervals. The article directs readers to page 6 for more on saucer reports.

Another article on page 3, 'Tefats-rapporter i massor' (Saucer reports in droves), states that the flying phenomenon continued to puzzle observers over the weekend. Reports received by DD included one from Verner Zetterberg in Grycksbo, who described the object as a dull cone with pointed arms. Similar reports of mysterious light phenomena came from Lima kyrkby in Västerdalarna.

New Reports This Weekend: The Luminous Phenomenon Puzzles

Page 4 delves deeper into the sightings, with the headline 'Nya rapporter i helgen: Lysande fenomenet förbryllar' (New reports this weekend: Luminous phenomenon puzzles). The luminous phenomena observed in the Dalarna sky continue to perplex. On Saturday and Sunday, reports described observations similar to previous sightings. Verner Zetterberg in Grycksbo reported seeing a light in the sky at 6 PM on Saturday. He observed a mysterious object in the western horizon over Fransberget for several minutes. He described it as a dull cone with pointed arms, a description that matched the sighting by Eva Dahlberg in Gröntuv and the report from the two Mockfjärd girls (Theresia Dahlin and Lena Olknutsson).

Johan Kinnerud of the Västerbergslagens UFO-förening has been systematically reviewing all reported sightings. He categorizes the observations into three types: a blue-yellow sphere moving rapidly across the sky, a light beam resembling a luminous cross, and an oval luminous object with protruding spotlights. Kinnerud finds the latter particularly interesting due to similar descriptions in UFO literature.

Eva Drew a 'Saucer'

Page 5 features Eva Dahlberg's drawing of the object she saw. The headline reads 'Eva ritade av 'tefatet'' (Eva drew the 'saucer'). The article, 'Jag såg det över åkern...' (I saw it over the field...), recounts Eva Dahlberg's experience on Thursday morning at 6:40 AM. From her kitchen window, she saw a peculiar, conical luminous object hovering over a field in Gröntuv. She described it as a sharp, dull cone surrounded by strong lamps on high stands, moving slowly as if in a snow-like mist. She found the sight incomprehensible. The article notes that the luminous phenomena in the Dalarna sky continue to be puzzling, with many sightings reported from the Siljansbygden and Västerbergslagen areas.

DD's Phenomenon Desk Overwhelmed: What Did Eva See Over the Field?

Page 6 continues the story of Eva Dahlberg's sighting. She expressed disbelief, stating, 'I just can't grasp what it was – I almost dropped my porridge!' Eva described the object as a high, luminous cone surrounded by intense spotlights on a ring of stands, moving slowly as if in a cloud of snow or dust. She could only see it clearly from a narrow angle between a house and a barn. The object was visible for several minutes before disappearing. She ran to another window to see it reappear on the other side of the barn, but it was gone.

Eva initially hesitated to tell anyone, fearing they would think she was crazy. However, upon seeing a picture of a similar phenomenon in DD on Friday, she shared her experience with friends and family, who advised her to contact DD. Together with Eva, the reporter inspected the field for any traces, but the recent snowfall had likely obscured them. Eva estimated the object's distance to be a couple of hundred meters. She did not hear any sound from the object. She speculated it might have resembled a road maintenance machine, but questioned why such a machine would be out at that hour. She wondered if the passing motorist on the nearby highway had also reacted but remained silent.

Enviken Lit Up...

Margit Stenlund in Yttertänger reported a peculiar phenomenon on Tuesday evening. She saw a very bright fireball ascend straight up into the sky over the mountains south of Vågsjön and Envikens church. She dismissed the possibility of it being fireworks. Later, while gathering firewood, she experienced a blindingly bright light. She saw a fireball ascend and then explode into various-sized burning flags. A faint sound was heard from the southern mountains afterward.

Allan Ericsson, press officer at the Dalregementet, suggested the description resembled military flares, but a check confirmed no such exercises were conducted in the area. Other possible explanations include ball lightning or a satellite falling to Earth. Gote Åsberg in Borlänge recalled a similar event ten years prior, attributed to a falling satellite.

Motor Gliders?

Many reports involved humming light beams, particularly around Falun and Borlänge. A silent, brightly lit lamp was seen gliding over Samuelsdal in Falun on New Year's night. Similar humming sounds were reported near Gruvrisberget. A possible explanation offered is motor gliders operating at night.

Flew Backwards...

Olof Melin in Grycksbo was puzzled by an aircraft he saw flying 'backwards' at 4:45 PM on Wednesday. He noted the red and green navigation lights were reversed.

Eivor Hansson in Stora Grävningen, Hosjö, reported a strange event at 6:10 AM last Friday. Her house shook violently, and a large, luminous lamp, like a fiery ball, appeared in the sky and moved towards the Lugnet ski jump towers before suddenly extinguishing. The noise also ceased, and she confirmed her boiler was intact.

Phenomena Around Siljan...

Several reports came from the Siljan area. Sven Bergman in Garsås described a strong, luminous object over Siljan and the surrounding mountains for half an hour on Tuesday evening. It shifted from a fiery red to white and moved slowly before accelerating eastward towards Falun. Stina Eriksson in Mora saw a strong light phenomenon over Saxviken for about two minutes, describing it as illuminated from below, and not an aircraft.

Margit Weller in Mora reported seeing the phenomenon over Långlet with several neighbors. It was red and flaming, coming from the southeast and turning at Hemulberget, sometimes appearing like an airplane and at other times taking a different shape. Young people in Öna also saw the same object.

Herman Skeri in Rättvik observed an intensely luminous object moving slowly and silently over Rättvik on Wednesday evening at 7:30 PM. Göran Lundgren in Älvdalen saw a similar object between Ornäs and Borlänge on Thursday evening, which suddenly disappeared.

...and in Västerbergslagen

Reports from Västerbergslagen include Nils Simonsson in Karlberg, Ludvika, observing two light beams moving slowly one above the other in the east for 2-3 hours each evening for a week. He studied it through binoculars.

Twelve-year-old Marie Dahlbom and Ellinor Thiger in Morgårdshammar were startled by a large luminous object gliding across the sky while they were sledding. They described it as a giant white blinking star, and heard a beeping sound as it approached. Teresia Dahlin in Mockfjärd, who had previously reported a sighting, saw a similar phenomenon again on Friday evening while waiting for a bus. She described it as an oblong, blinking light in various colors that would fade and reappear. They saw it again after getting on the bus.

UFOs - What's it About? Interested?

Page 8 features an article titled 'STOPP det handlar om UFO. Intresserad ?' (STOP it's about UFOs. Interested?). The author, who was involved in founding the Bärke UFO-förening nine years prior, reflects on the decline in active members. She notes that while many were initially interested, only a few remain. She questions if the organization has done something wrong to cause members to stop attending meetings.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of UFO-NYTT strongly emphasizes the ongoing and increasing interest in UFO phenomena, both locally in Sweden and globally, citing Hessdalen as an example of an active UFO hotspot. The editorial stance is one of active investigation and encouragement for member participation. The magazine serves as a platform for sharing eyewitness accounts, photographs, and discussions about UFO events. There is a clear call to action for members to remain active, attend meetings, and contribute to the organization's efforts. The publication aims to keep the UFO interest alive and to document new sightings and potential explanations, while also acknowledging the mystery surrounding many of these events. The recurring theme is the widespread nature of these sightings and the need for continued observation and reporting.

Title: Aftonbladet
Issue Date: Sunday, January 13, 1985
Content Focus: The issue prominently features reports and eyewitness accounts of mysterious flying objects, often referred to as 'flying saucers' or 'tefat', observed in the Dalarna region of Sweden.

Main Cover Story: "Var det ett tefat jag såg?" (Did I see a flying saucer?)

The cover of Aftonbladet on January 13, 1985, poses the question, "Did I see a flying saucer?" accompanied by a striking black and white photograph of a potential UFO. The article details the experiences of photographer Rune Österlund, who on two consecutive evenings (Wednesday and Thursday) witnessed and photographed an unknown flying object in the sky near Falun.

Österlund described the object as being close on Wednesday evening, illuminating the road with two strong beams of light. He initially mistook it for a new Saab aircraft or a police helicopter but found its behavior unusual. When he exited his car, the object's light was so intense it blinded him. He attempted to photograph it but the object turned and disappeared with a short hum. Many people called Dala-Demokraten, where Österlund works, reporting similar sightings that matched his description in terms of time and location.

On Thursday evening, Österlund saw the object again, at a much higher altitude, and managed to capture a photograph. He expressed regret for not getting a closer shot on Wednesday, believing it could have revealed more about the object's nature.

Witness Accounts and Expert Opinions

The issue compiles numerous other witness accounts from across Dalarna. Many described seeing a bright, pulsating object, sometimes appearing as a light ramp or two intense spotlights. Some heard strange sounds, like humming or grinding.

• Georg Broberg from Stora Nas-i Hosjö described being frightened by the sight and hearing a "fräsande och vinande ljud" (hissing and whining sound).
• Folke Mattsson from Lustigknopp in Falun also reported seeing the object.
• Gustav and Harriet Öholm from Avesta observed the phenomenon for a long time and definitively ruled out aircraft, describing it as a "hela skarpt lysande ljusramp" (entirely sharply shining light ramp) that moved silently.
• Svea Stenberg from Rommarbacken in Sundborn described it as a stationary, intensely shining sphere.
• Gunvor Brändholm from Tunsta in Insjön saw a bright blue-green object moving very quickly.
• Soile Ceder from Djura reported seeing the object twice on Thursday evening, first moving towards Falun and later in the opposite direction.
• Evert Backlund from Mockfjärd described seeing a brightly shining object that moved slowly and then disappeared.
• Roger Lind from Smedjebacken reported seeing a large, rapidly shining fireball that split into two halves.
• Peter Brändholm from Djura described seeing a large, shining fireball.
• Anna-Greta Björling from Borlänge witnessed a bright red object moving for about an hour and a half.

Expert Analysis:

• Stig Aggestd from UFO-Sverige's report center in Eskilstuna stated that the sightings clearly indicated "illegal verksamhet" (illegal activity), as no controlled flight operations were reported in the area.
• Gudrun Andersson and Johan Kinnerud from UFO-Sverige's local reporting centers expressed fascination and a lack of natural explanations.
• Karl Jansson, who compiles UFO sightings in Borlänge, was convinced it was an "oidentifierat föremål från andra världar" (unidentified object from other worlds).
• Dala Airport's traffic control confirmed no civil air traffic in the area during the reported times.
• The Swedish Defence Staff (Försvarsstaben) stated that no military air activity was taking place.
• Gösta Aidert from the military's air operations department had no logical explanation but confirmed no military aircraft were present.
• Sture Wicherts from FOA (Swedish Defence Research Agency) initially suggested it could be an aircraft, possibly a promotional stunt, but acknowledged that the descriptions of its movement did not align with typical aircraft behavior.

"Illegal verksamhet" (Illegal Activity) and Official Reactions

The article highlights that both civilian and military authorities confirmed no scheduled flights or exercises were occurring in the Dalarna region during the times of the sightings. This lack of conventional explanation led to speculation about "illegal verksamhet" or even extraterrestrial origins.

• The Swedish Defence Staff indicated they would initiate investigations.
• FOA acknowledged the reports but maintained a cautious stance, with Wicherts suggesting a possible aircraft, though admitting its described movements were unusual.

Specific Cases and Locations

• The Socorro Case (April 24, 1964, USA): Mentioned as a well-documented and credible case of a UFO landing and takeoff, involving police officer Lonnie Zamora, which remains unsolved.
• Lima, Sweden: Residents reported seeing a large, bright object resembling a flying saucer.
• Malung, Sweden: Bo Nyström observed a cone-shaped object, possibly a satellite.
• Galgberget, Falun: Municipal councilor Nisse Dahlberg and Lieutenant Colonel Allan Ericsson observed an intense red-yellow light phenomenon.

Scientific Perspectives

• Göran Henriksson from Uppsala Observatory suggested that some sightings might be misinterpretations of bright celestial bodies like Venus, which appears very close to Earth and is visible in the evening sky. He cautioned against the "fantasi kan lätt skena iväg" (imagination can easily run wild) phenomenon.
• The article also briefly explains meteors, starfalls, and fireballs as natural phenomena.

International Interest

By January 16, 1985, the news of the mysterious phenomena in Dalarna had spread globally. DD reported that media outlets worldwide were interested in purchasing the photographs taken by their photographers, Rune Österlund and Benny Norgren.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout the issue is the persistent reporting of unexplained aerial phenomena in Dalarna. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious reporting, presenting eyewitness accounts and official statements without outright dismissing the possibility of the phenomena being genuinely unknown. While scientific explanations like misidentified aircraft or celestial bodies are mentioned, the lack of concrete evidence and the sheer volume of consistent reports suggest an ongoing mystery. The publication seems to lean towards acknowledging the unexplained nature of the events, encouraging further investigation and open-mindedness, as suggested by the inclusion of the quote "Låt UFO finnas!" (Let UFOs exist!).

This issue of DD magazine, dated Thursday, January 17, 1985, focuses heavily on reports of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and other mysterious aerial phenomena observed in Sweden, particularly in the Dalarna region. The cover story features Gunno Gunvall from Försvarsstaben stating, "I don't believe in little green men," but acknowledging the possibility of crashed satellites or space debris.

Expert Opinions and Explanations

Several experts weigh in on the sightings. Gunno Gunvall suggests that many reported phenomena might be crashed satellites or space debris, which are more common than people think, rather than extraterrestrial visitors. Meteorologist Göran Axelsson from SMHI is skeptical of UFO phenomena but doesn't dismiss them outright, suggesting that meteorites or ball lightning could be explanations. Bengt Ahlström from SMHI also discusses inversion phenomena, where atmospheric layers can cause unusual visual effects, but finds it unlikely to explain all recent sightings. Mona Engberg from the Dalarna Astronomical Society reports seeing a bright green meteorite. The magazine also notes that Venus is currently very bright and close to Earth, potentially causing misidentifications.

Specific Sightings and Reports

The issue details numerous sightings from various locations:

• Middle Sweden: Reports of mysterious objects, initially thought to be meteorites, but some described them as moving and changing course, leading to speculation about crashed satellites or space debris.
• Tyresö, Fagersta, Sala, Dalarna: Stig Agestad from UFO-Sveriges reports receiving about 300 reports annually, with 85% having natural explanations. The remaining 15% are considered interesting.
• Svärdsjö: Mona Engberg describes seeing a bright green meteorite.
• Borlänge: A girl reported a light phenomenon later identified as Venus.
• Falun: Reports of bright meteors with short durations are mentioned.
• Hessdalen, Norway: UFO experts Mats Nilsson and Åke Johansson from UFO-Sveriges are investigating phenomena similar to those seen in Hessdalen, which have been observed since 1981. These include light phenomena, plasma formations, and objects captured on film and radar. The project is independent of established UFO groups.
• Orsasjön: A luminous object with an orange glow was seen, described as hat-like and releasing light bombs.
• Mora: Stina Eriksson reports seeing two parallel luminous objects, described as vertical light ramps forming a portal.
• Ludvika: Eskil Westlund describes a large luminous sphere that followed ground contours.
• Karlsbyn (Sundborn): Margit Kjellgren reports seeing a large, intensely shining balloon-like object with red and green lights, which later changed shape, appearing as a sailboat with a mast and blinking sails, then a rectangle with a tail, and finally a cone.

Scientific and Investigative Approaches

Lars Broman, a docent in physics and a member of the Dalarna Astronomical Society, advises UFO hunters to bring a watch and compass to record exact times and directions. This, he explains, helps determine if a phenomenon is a distant star or planet, as multiple observers seeing the same object from different locations at the same time and in the same direction would indicate a celestial body. He notes that phenomena like Sirius and Vega can appear unusually bright and shift position in clear weather. Broman does not believe in flying saucers but hopes to see one someday, emphasizing that currently, there is no scientific evidence for them.

Media Interest and Public Fascination

The UFO phenomena have attracted significant international attention, with foreign newspapers and radio stations contacting DD. The unique images captured by DD photographers Benny Norgren and Rune Osterlund are generating considerable interest, with negotiations underway for exclusive rights to the material for distribution in America. The article suggests that the public's interest in these events is growing, potentially sparking a renewed interest in astronomy.

Other Articles

• "Jupiter had already set": This section debunks the theory that Jupiter was responsible for the observed aerial phenomena, with meteorological data indicating Jupiter had set before dusk.
• "Extas över hål" (Ecstasy over a hole): This short piece reports on NASA's excitement over an image received from the HEAO-2 X-ray telescope satellite, believed to be the first image of a black hole in space.
• "Bermuda Triangle is not dangerous": Soviet scientists claim to have proven that the vortices in the Bermuda Triangle are not a threat to shipping.
• "The 'sailboat' became a rectangle with a tail!": This article details more unusual shape-shifting sightings.
• "They want a space plane": Reports on the US military's desire for a space plane capable of launching from a regular airfield and returning to land.
• "Veckans Jansson": A cartoon by Jansson depicting people observing strange objects in the sky, with a caption pondering what mysterious things are happening in the airspace over Dalarna and if they are related to Mars.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes are the mystery of unidentified aerial phenomena, the scientific community's attempts to explain them through natural causes, and the public's enduring fascination with the unknown. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious inquiry, presenting expert opinions and eyewitness accounts while acknowledging the unexplained elements. There's an underlying encouragement for rigorous observation and reporting, aiming to separate credible accounts from misidentifications and hoaxes.