UFO-Nytt - 1990 No 4

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO-nytt
Issue: nr 4
Volume: 1990
Publisher: VÄSTERBERGSLAGENS UFO-förening
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish
Cover Headline: VÄSTERBERGSLAGENS UFO-förening

This issue of UFO-nytt, the magazine for members of the VÄSTERBERGSLAGENS UFO-förening, is the fourth issue of 1990. It is published four times a year. The cover features the organization's name and contact information, along with a stylized emblem of a flying saucer over a map.

Table of Contents

The table of contents outlines the articles and reports featured in this issue:

• Page 2: Foreword
• Pages 3-8: The investigation group has noted the latest.
• Page 9: News from Tottes Databank.
• Pages 10-13: A look back.
• Page 14: Clipping.
• Pages 15-18: FOA neglected to investigate a report about a flying steel cylinder.
• Page 19: The autumn night sky.
• Pages 20-24: Third kind encounter - Report from Rauna, Finland.

Editorial and Membership Information

The Editorial Team: Thor-Leif Andersson, Birgit Sälgström, Ingmari Strömberg, Berit Bergkvist, Torsten Karlsson, Gudrun Andersson, Lars Andersson, Birgitta Andersson.

Membership: The annual fee for 1990 is 75 kronor, and 25 kronor for those under 16 years old. Payments are to be made to postgiro number 16099-4. The address is Box 99, 77723 Smedjebacken.

An illustration with a speech bubble asks: "And you! Haven't you forgotten to subscribe for 1991 too?"

Foreword

The foreword, signed by Gudrun, reflects on the past year and looks forward to the next. The organization plans to continue its activities without raising membership fees, hoping to retain its interested members. They emphasize the importance of including one's name on payment slips to avoid confusion. A field research course held during the autumn was well-received, with participants from across the country. The foreword thanks Johan Kinneryd for his material for the course, and also acknowledges Birgit Sälgström, Berit Bergkvist, Conny Persson, Ingmari Strömberg, pilot Lennart Norberg, and Lars and Birgitta for their contributions to lotteries and publicity. Clas Svahn is mentioned for an interesting slide presentation. A potential study trip to Gotland for UFO SVERIGES members is proposed, preferably outside the main tourist season. A trip to the pyramids is planned for April-May 1991, organized by Göteborgs UFO förening. Despite the apparent absence of UFOs, the organization remains active. The foreword concludes with Christmas and New Year wishes.

Investigation Group Reports

UFO SVERIGES - HAR NOTERAT DET SENASTE (Has Noted the Latest)

This section details recent UFO reports received by the investigation group. While not all reports are recent, they are considered interesting. There are indications of activity in Norway, with hopes for more information. A potential 'new Hessdalen' is mentioned.

• Report 1:
• Date: 1965 or 1966, August or September
• Location: Frösön, Sweden
• Witness: Roland Frisk
• Description: While having dinner, Roland Frisk observed a very bright, pulsating white object over Frösöberget. It hovered at an estimated altitude of 600-700 meters, then moved directly overhead. The object was oval, larger than the full moon, and appeared to have windows. After hovering for 2-3 minutes, it ascended rapidly and moved east. Frisk contacted the local air force base, which had received a similar report from Hallen Jämtland, and a local newspaper later reported an unidentified object seen over Jämtland.
• Handler: Birgit Sälgström

• Report 2:
• Date: 1982 September, 20:30-20:33
• Location: Gotland, Sweden
• Witness: Dan Beier
• Description: Dan Beier observed a luminous, vibrating streak in the northeast while working on his property. The streak turned into a light beam with edges resembling magnesium. It disappeared after he continued his work.
• Handler: Elenor Longley

• Report 3:
• Date: 1957 August, 01:30-01:33
• Location: Gotland, Follingbo, Sweden
• Witness: Klas Pettersson
• Description: Klas Pettersson saw a bright, globular object, larger than the sun, hovering over a farm while cycling at night. The object emitted a strong light that illuminated the surroundings. It moved faster than a car and was described as a large, yellowish-orange clump. He initially thought it was a comet. A car driver reportedly panicked upon seeing the object. No mention of the event appeared in newspapers the following day.
• Handler: Bror Mattson
• Rapportcentralens comment: This report is compared to a similar sighting by Clas in UFO AKTUELLT NR 2 from 1952.

• Report 4:
• Date: 1989 February 9, 02:45–03:10
• Location: Visby, Sweden
• Witness: Anonym
• Description: The witness saw a faint light over Visby, which intensified as he drove. He initially suspected a forest fire but found no evidence of one. The light was located about 200-300 meters into the woods at an altitude of about 50 meters. It was described as a bright light mixed with water, orange juice, and milk, with internal movement and a counter-clockwise rotation. The light then vanished without a sound. The Swedish Defense Forces were contacted but found no exercise in the area. The case was investigated, but the results were not disclosed. Air Force could not explain it.
• Handler: Elenor Longley

• Report 5:
• Date: 1989 December 9-12, 20:15–20:20
• Location: Västerlanda Kyrka, Sweden
• Witness: Anonym
• Description: The witness, driving a tractor in cold weather, saw a strange, beautiful, light blue object with a beige center on the sky. It moved with incredible speed along a river, then descended and disappeared behind a forest. The object's speed was incomprehensible to the witness. The weather was clear and still, with moonlight.
• Handler: Roald Lundgren

• Report 6:
• Date: 1990 July 27, 23:45–23:00
• Location: ÖFrölunda, Svenljunga kommun, Sweden
• Witness: Leif Lissjanis
• Description: Leif Lissjanis observed a large lamp blinking with yellow-white and red lights. The light seemed to be pulled back and forth. A humming sound was heard briefly. The object was visible at about 50 degrees elevation. A plane with a visible fuselage later appeared on a similar course and altitude.
• Handler: Leif Lissjanis

• Report 7:
• Date: 1990 September 29, 03:30–03:32
• Location: Kramfors, Sweden
• Witness: Karl-Gustav Spjut
• Description: Karl-Gustav Spjut saw a bright light opening up in the sky, which then emitted a beam that was stationary and widened at the bottom, forming a funnel shape. Beneath this funnel was a smaller blue-green cloud. The phenomenon lasted for about 2 minutes. A burning smell was noted. The Rapportcentralen commented that this might be a rocket launch.
• Handler: Gudrun Andersson

• Report 8:
• Date: 1990 August 1, 00:00
• Location: Stockholm, Sweden
• Witness: Malin Abrahamsson
• Description: Malin Abrahamsson woke to a 2-decimeter long object with metallic red, green, and blue lights and a faint humming sound above her head. She was frightened and hid in the bathroom. Upon returning to the room, she found nothing. Later, she experienced a phenomenon where her grandmother's voice from the stairs was heard through her answering machine, despite the distance and closed doors, suggesting a possible translocation or anomaly.
• Handler: Gudrun Andersson

News from Tottes Databank

By Torsten Karlsson

This section presents news items, primarily concerning Soviet Union UFO reports, which are becoming more frequent following Perestroika. The editor notes that these reports are often received late and that previous reports had been doubted by authorities. However, this time, there are no official denials, and the editor believes these telegrams depict facts.

• Tefat Siktade (Saucers Sighted):
• Source: Rabochaja Tribuna newspaper, reported by Tass.
• Date: April 1990
• Location: Perejaslavl-Zalesskij, northeast of Moscow, Russia.
• Description: The city's air defense reported multiple sightings of UFOs, described as disc-shaped with a diameter of 100-200 meters. They were tracked by radar and observed by a fighter pilot. The UFOs reportedly flew 2-3 times faster than fighter jets, maneuvered with incredible agility, rotated on their axis, and moved in a zigzag pattern both horizontally and vertically. Two pulsating fireballs were seen on the sides of the UFOs, with the speed of the pulsations indicating the speed of the craft.

• UFO I SOVJET (UFO in the Soviet Union):
• Source: Tass (official news agency)
• Date: April 1990
• Location: Uljanovsk, Russia.
• Description: An unidentified flying object, described as a luminous blue-green ball, was seen by hundreds of residents along the Volga River. The object was also noted by air traffic controllers at the local airport. Witnesses described it as resembling a self-illuminating blue-green ball.

Other Articles

• The Autumn Night Sky: This article is mentioned in the table of contents but not detailed in the provided pages.
• FOA Neglected to Investigate: This article is also mentioned in the table of contents but not detailed in the provided pages.
• A Look Back: This section is mentioned in the table of contents but not detailed in the provided pages.
• Clipping: This section is mentioned in the table of contents but not detailed in the provided pages.

Robotolympiad in Scotland

This is a brief news item about the first robot olympiad held in Glasgow, Scotland, in late September. It featured about 50 participants from Japan, USA, Soviet Union, and Europe, competing in events like climbing, running, navigation, and swimming. The competition aimed to showcase robots' capabilities beyond industrial tasks. The source is Sveriges Tekniska Attachéer.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of UFO-nytt are UFO sightings and investigations, with a particular focus on reports from Sweden and Russia. The magazine presents a collection of witness testimonies, often detailing the appearance, behavior, and perceived speed of unidentified aerial phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry and documentation of these events, encouraging members to share their experiences and contribute to the collective knowledge. The inclusion of news from Soviet sources suggests an interest in international UFO activity. The magazine also highlights the organizational activities of the VÄSTERBERGSLAGENS UFO-förening, including membership drives and planned events, indicating a commitment to fostering a community of UFO enthusiasts.

This issue of "Världs Nytt" (World News), a Swedish publication likely focused on UFO phenomena, presents a collection of historical UFO reports and related commentary. The issue is translated from MUFON UFO JOURNAL NR 251 and dated March 1989. It includes a look back at sightings from thirty-five, twenty, and ten years prior, as well as more recent reports from 1989.

Historical Sightings - Thirty-Five Years Ago (March 1954)

The issue details several significant UFO incidents from March 1954:

• Hazelton, Pennsylvania: Four flying discs were sighted near a traffic plane, causing control disturbances. The report was classified by the Civil Aeronautics Administration.
• Fresno, California: Harold E. Talbott, an Air Force chief, and his crew witnessed a large, silver-gleaming metallic disc following their plane at about 300 meters. The object performed a tight circle and then vanished at incredible speed.
• Baltimore, Maryland: Adolf Wagner reported seeing a formation of 13 triangular objects. The formation split as a traffic plane approached, and a larger object descended from the sky before they all disappeared.
• Florida: A Marine Corps jet pilot, Don Holland, observed a disc descend over a missile launch site. It stopped abruptly at about 1000 meters altitude before speeding away.

Historical Sightings - Thirty Years Ago (March 1959)

Reports from March 1959 include:

• Purnong, Australia: Percy Briggs and Carl Towill reported seeing a large, dome-shaped craft resembling a brightly lit circus tent take off from a field. It ascended rapidly.
• Kyger, Ohio: Charles Athey observed a UFO resembling stacked plates with a red, star-shaped rotating device. Light emanated from openings.
• Kyger, Ohio: Mayo R. Bales reported a similar object. His car radio reception ceased, and a humming sound was heard. His car's headlights also weakened.

Historical Sightings - Twenty Years Ago (March 1969)

Incidents from March 1969 include:

• Missouri: William Overstreet described a bright red, spherical object about 30 meters in diameter hovering over the road. A light beam from the object caused intense heat, and the car's engine and radio stopped.
• Missouri: A housewife in Lancaster reported a large light beam from a grey disc with a dome, which slowed her car from 80 km/h to 10 km/h without apparent mechanical failure.
• Sweden: Kjell Näslund reported seeing a large, stationary craft about 15 meters from a station, emitting a dim, grey light. He described the occupants as "boxes" about 130-135 cm tall. The craft then departed.

Historical Sightings - Fifteen Years Ago (March 1974)

• Italy: Jet pilot Alfonso Isaia reported seeing a glowing white mass resembling a pipe from below and an inverted saucer from above. The object was multi-colored and moved at high speed, with radar confirming its presence.

Historical Sightings - Ten Years Ago (March 1979)

• South Carolina: Ben Chastain observed a slow-moving, round object about 4 meters in diameter. His dogs became agitated, and a strong light illuminated the area. The object moved up and down and passed over his home.
• Oconee County, South Carolina: Sheriff Jimmy Roach and others reported seeing a similar object. The Osborn family reported a hovering craft on Highway 221 that emitted a strong, penetrating light.

Recent Reports (1989)

• Kramfors, Sweden: Signe Gustavsson reported seeing a bright light ball about half a meter in diameter moving slowly.
• Edsele, Sweden: Helge Edberg saw a bright light about 80 meters above the treetops, described as similar to a shoemaker's lamp.
• Arjeplog, Sweden: Several readers reported a mysterious red-white/blue light in the sky, moving in an elliptical path and described as unlike the aurora borealis.

Analysis and Commentary

The magazine includes commentary on the Swedish defense's handling of UFO reports. It suggests that while naval incidents involving submarines received significant attention and resources, UFO reports were often dismissed or not documented by official bodies like FOA (Swedish Defence Research Agency). The article implies that sensitive UFO reports might have been handled by other departments within the defense establishment, such as Op 5. The authors express frustration with the lack of official interest and the limited resources available for civilian UFO research, contrasting it with the extensive naval investigations.

Proposed Civilian Research Institute

The publication advocates for the establishment of a civilian research institute with broad expertise (ufologists, ethnologists, psychologists, sociologists, physicists, etc.) to investigate unidentified aerial phenomena and "technological imitations" from the 1930s onwards. This institute would aim to compile and analyze data independently, potentially receiving private funding, and would seek access to government documents, unlike the current situation where official reports are often ignored or classified.

Astronomical Observations

An article by Birgit provides information on celestial events for the autumn and early winter of 1989, including the visibility of planets like Venus, Mars, and Jupiter, as well as meteor showers (Leonids, Andromedids, Geminids, Ursids) and moon phases.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the persistent nature of UFO sightings across different decades and geographical locations, the often-unexplained characteristics of these phenomena, and the perceived lack of serious investigation or acknowledgment by official defense and aviation authorities. The editorial stance appears to be one of advocating for greater transparency, more thorough research into UFOs, and a recognition of their potential significance, possibly linking them to advanced extraterrestrial technology or unknown terrestrial phenomena.

This document is a report titled "NÄRKONTAKT AV 3:e GRADEN - RAPPORT FRÅN RAUNA, FINLAND" (Close Encounter of the 3rd Kind - Report from Rauna, Finland), published by FSR and translated from Swedish. It details a UFO sighting and encounter investigated by astronomers Juhani Kyröläinen and Pekka Teerikorpi.

Report on the Rauna Incident

The report begins by introducing the authors, astronomers from the University of Helsinki and Åbo University Laboratory, who received numerous letters describing personal UFO experiences after publishing their book "UFOJEN ARVOITUS". While many could be attributed to astronomical phenomena, some were deemed interesting enough for further investigation. This report presents preliminary results from one such case.

Witness Account: Allan and Maila

The primary witnesses are a couple named Allan and Maila, who reported an incident in June 1979. Allan, who is handicapped with an amputated leg, and Maila observed a peculiar object through an open window in broad daylight. The object was approximately 60 meters away. Maila went to investigate closer and described the object as a domed, approximately 1-meter wide, object supported by thin legs. She perceived the upper part as transparent and the lower part as black. Inside, she saw two beings seated on mini-stools.

Description of the Beings and Object

Maila described the beings as "hideous" with "beak-like" features similar to hawks, and their skin covered in greenish-brown spots like frogs. They had large, bulging eyes, wide mouths, and long chins. Their ears were pointed and leaf-like. They wore shiny grey helmets with antennae and a yellow band. The beings' clothing was black, including long gloves.

The object itself had a domed upper part and a flat lower part, silver-grey in color, with a dark blue-black lower section. A dark shadow was visible beneath it, suggesting it was resting on its own shadow. A blue-black "light band" emanated from the object's midsection, sweeping horizontally over the nearby forest for about a minute before abruptly ceasing.

The Encounter and its Aftermath

Allan observed from indoors while Maila approached the object. As Maila was about to touch the object, one of the beings turned its head and made a gesture with its left hand. Maila then experienced "grit (electricity) in her eyes," causing temporary blindness and disorientation. The object then moved away with a "whizzing sound." The entire event lasted about 10 minutes. The radio was on during the incident, and no interference was detected.

Investigation and Credibility Assessment

The investigators visited the site in September 1980, about a year after the event. The weather was rainy, hindering detailed field studies. Despite this, they conducted an interview with Allan and Maila, recording their account. Based on their experience with the witnesses, the authors concluded that Allan and Maila were likely telling the truth, finding no evidence of deception or a desire for publicity. They noted that Allan had read some UFO books, including works by von Däniken, but did not appear overly influenced. They also found it unlikely that Maila, who was not described as a "reader type," would be involved in a staged "bluff" by Allan. The investigators applied objective analysis methods, such as those described by Haines, to assess the report.

Discussion and Potential Explanations

The report discusses the incredible yet interesting nature of the story, a common combination in ufology. It explores potential explanations, including psychological phenomena such as shared hallucination, referencing the concept of "folie á daux." However, the authors admit they are not sufficiently specialized in these areas to offer a definitive psychological explanation. They also consider the possibility of behavioral science explanations but find them "too foreign." The report emphasizes the need for serious work in the area of UFO phenomena and behavioral science.

It is noted that Allan and Maila did not repeat themselves and seemed unaffected by paranormal experiences, although Maila was visibly frightened when describing the beings' faces. The witnesses pointed out that on sunny, dry days, clear marks could be seen on the ground where the object had landed, but the rain prevented confirmation during the investigators' visit.

The report categorizes common elements in close encounter reports into three groups: description of the object, description of the beings, and feelings and after-effects. The authors find the description of the object to be typical of UFO reports, including its shape and the "light band." The observation of beings through a transparent part of the craft is also noted as a common feature in close encounters.

Conclusions and Future Research

The authors believe the report is a valuable piece of the UFO puzzle and that scientific study of such reports is crucial. They found no signs of dishonesty and believe the experience was real for the witnesses. While they cannot definitively assert the event's objective reality within normal perception limits, they leave the question open. They plan to conduct further visits to the site to try and establish a more precise location of the encounter.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine issue, as represented by this report, focuses on detailed accounts of alleged UFO sightings and close encounters. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious investigation and analysis, attempting to approach the subject from a scientific perspective while acknowledging the extraordinary nature of the claims. There is an emphasis on witness credibility and the collection of data for further study. The report also touches upon the psychological aspects of such experiences and the challenges in verifying their objective reality. The issue concludes with a Christmas and New Year greeting, indicating a seasonal publication.