UFO-Nytt - 1994 No 1

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO-nytt
Issue: 1
Volume: 1994
Publisher: Västerbergslagens UFO-förening
Date: 1994

This issue of UFO-nytt, published by the Västerbergslagens UFO-förening, presents a collection of articles and reports related to UFO phenomena, investigations, and witness testimonies. The magazine aims to document and explore unexplained aerial events.

Foreword

The foreword, written by Gudrun, reflects on the unfulfilled prophecies of UFO contactees, noting that some have now postponed the predicted year of contact to 2001. The author expresses skepticism towards groups that claim personal contact with extraterrestrials and monetize these claims through lectures and publications. Gudrun warns against questioning these groups, as it can lead to being blacklisted. The foreword also touches upon the idea that Earth will be saved by 'chosen' individuals from nature's laws and 'evil' people, while the 'un-chosen' will face a dramatic end. The author questions why this salvation hasn't happened sooner, suggesting it would have been better in the 17th century. Regardless, the focus shifts to the long-term work of UFO investigation, emphasizing the need to involve younger, curious members to ensure the organization's continuity for potentially another 100 years.

Investigation Group Report: Grängesberg

This section details an investigation into an event that occurred in Grängesberg on October 22, 1993, between 22:00 and 22:08. The primary witness is Vera Knezevic, accompanied by six other witnesses, including her mother and children. The incident began when Vera and her friends went to help a friend to her car. They observed a triangular, strongly luminous object on the other side of a mountain. Vera's friend, who was startled, quickly got into her car and drove away. Vera then saw a shadow of a person, up to the waist, inside the object. The temperature was around 7 degrees Celsius. The object then began to move upwards, appearing to grow larger, before sinking down and disappearing rapidly. A vertical streak of light was observed, outlining the mountain's contours. Vera's friend reported experiencing unusual interference on her phone, and her husband reported similar interference on their television. The object was described as yellow with an orange hue. The shadows inside were perceived as large, making movement difficult, but later, one figure moved, revealing ample space. The entire event was described as fantastic, leaving Vera too stunned to fetch a camera. She felt the object was still present even after it disappeared behind the mountain, and it was larger than the full moon.

Follow-up: Gudrun Andersson was contacted by Vera the morning after the event and recounted the same details. Lars Andersson visited the site and investigated the surrounding forest but found no explanation. Two additional, independent witnesses came forward but declined to provide a written report, one being a child. Vera is known as an honest person.

New Findings in the Triangle of Death

This article discusses the mysterious disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle and the Dragon's Triangle. It states that approximately 200 ships and over 1,000 people have vanished without a trace in these regions, with no wreckage, lifeboats, or oil slicks ever found. The article mentions a potential new underwater discovery that might shed light on these mysteries.

It recounts the disappearance of 'Flight 19' on December 5, 1945, involving five Grumman TBM-3 Avenger planes that vanished after taking off from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The planes were on a training mission and reported compass malfunctions before disappearing. A search and rescue plane, a Martin Mariner, also went missing while searching for Flight 19. The article highlights the massive search effort that followed, involving over 300 aircraft, four destroyers, submarines, and numerous civilian vessels, but yielded no results.

The text also mentions the disappearance of the 19,000-ton collier USS Cyclops in 1918, which vanished with its 309 crew members. It notes that the Bermuda Triangle has claimed many ships over the years.

Charles Berlitz, a researcher and author, is presented as an expert on these disappearances. He has systematically documented cases in his books, which have achieved international success. Berlitz also identifies the 'Dragon's Triangle,' an area in the Pacific Ocean stretching from Japan to Guam and the Ladrones Islands, as potentially even more dangerous than the Bermuda Triangle. The Japanese government has officially declared this area a 'risk zone.' The article suggests that the popularity of Berlitz's work might lead scientists and authorities to dismiss his theories, but it acknowledges that no better explanation has been provided for these phenomena.

Various theories are explored, including UFO involvement, magnetic fields, tornados, underwater volcanoes, and gravitational anomalies. The article also touches upon Berlitz's 1977 expedition where he claimed to have found a pyramid-like structure deep underwater, suggesting it might emit energy that causes objects to disappear.

Meeting Between Helicopter and UFO in Kentucky?

This article reports on a sensational encounter between a helicopter and a UFO that allegedly occurred in Kentucky. The incident, which took place on February 26, 1993, in Louisville, involved four witnesses: two police officers in a helicopter and two in a police car. The helicopter crew, pilot Kennet Graham and officer Kenneth Downs, were on patrol when they spotted a strange, luminous object described as a 'light ball' among the trees.

Graham stated he saw the object before Downs did. They decided to investigate. Downs used the helicopter's powerful searchlight on the object, which he described as being the size of a basketball. The object began to swing back and forth and then ascended rapidly at a 45-degree angle. The police officers observed it moving at a height of approximately 400 meters. Graham maneuvered the helicopter to keep the object in front, but it consistently moved to the helicopter's rear. At one point, the object accelerated rapidly past the helicopter. As they flew parallel courses, about 30 meters apart, three basketball-sized spheres were ejected from the object and fell towards the ground in a uniform manner. After this, the police lost contact with the object.

The incident generated significant media attention, with 75 phone calls to the police station from people claiming to have seen the object and 30 calls to MUFON's Kentucky chapter. The weather conditions were clear, with about 16 cm of snow on the ground and visibility up to one mile.

The Homemade Balloon

Following the media reports of the Kentucky UFO encounter, Scott Heacock and his wife came forward. Heacock claimed that the object seen by the police was actually a homemade hot air balloon he had constructed from balsa wood and trash bags. He explained that he had launched the balloon that evening to show his wife, who had never seen one before. Heacock stated that the balloon got stuck in trees, which is when the police helicopter arrived and illuminated it with its searchlight. The balloon then detached and ascended. Heacock insisted that the helicopter circled and shone its light on the balloon, and he couldn't understand why it had garnered so much attention, calling it just a homemade balloon.

Heacocks live in the same area where the UFO encounter took place. If Heacock's account is true, the object was not unidentified but rather a known flying object. However, the two police officers remain convinced that what they saw was not a balloon but something else. They have been offered a chance to recreate the event using a balloon to see if they can identify it as such, but they have not yet responded.

Supporting Evidence for Police: The article notes that the speed of the object contradicts the possibility of it being a balloon.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of UFO-nytt strongly emphasizes the unexplained nature of UFO sightings and mysterious disappearances. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded investigation, presenting witness testimonies and research findings without immediate dismissal. The magazine highlights the persistence of UFO phenomena across different regions and time periods, from the Grängesberg sighting to the long-standing mysteries of the Bermuda and Dragon's Triangles. It also showcases the challenges in investigating such events, including the difficulty in obtaining official explanations and the potential for misidentification, as seen in the contrasting accounts of the Kentucky incident. The recurring theme is the search for truth in the face of the unknown, encouraging readers to consider possibilities beyond conventional explanations.

This issue of "Ur Hemmets Journal" (From Our Home's Journal) focuses on UFO phenomena, featuring a range of articles that explore sightings, alleged alien encounters, and the research surrounding these events. The magazine includes witness testimonies, discussions on the use of hypnosis to retrieve memories, and theories about the nature and intentions of extraterrestrials. The publication date is not explicitly stated, but the content refers to events and research from the mid-20th century up to the early 1990s.

Articles and Content

The Mystery of UFOs, the Flying Saucers

This main section of the magazine delves into the topic of UFOs and alleged encounters with aliens. It highlights the efforts of UFO organizations in various countries to gather facts about strange aerial phenomena.

Manchester, England: The article notes that some UFO accounts seem unbelievable, while others are pure fantasy. However, the subject of UFOs is fascinating, and groups worldwide are working to clarify the matter.

Roy Lake (53): Has been interested in UFOs for 33 years and leads a group of 18 members. He states that the topic involves more than just 'little green men' and that claims of people being abducted by flying saucers are ridiculed by doubters, yet many witness testimonies exist. He notes that people are often afraid to share their experiences.

Tony Dodd (57): A former police officer who had his first UFO encounter in 1978. He investigates abduction cases and works with victims under hypnosis. Dodd believes that the similar and strong nature of these accounts would change the minds of skeptics. He theorizes that aliens are involved in genetic manipulation, a practice he believes has been ongoing for centuries.

Harry Harris: A 50-year-old lawyer from Manchester who has researched UFOs for twelve years. He concludes that people who have encountered aliens often suffer from memory loss, and hypnosis is the only way for them to remember the details of these meetings.

Linda Jones (49): A seemingly average housewife from Manchester, who, thirteen years prior, was walking with her children when her son pointed out an approaching orange-glowing ball. Hiding in the grass, they witnessed the object shoot away. Later, they saw a massive white craft, about ten meters long, hovering half a meter above the ground. It had a net-like material underneath and no visible windows or doors. Linda felt drawn to the object. The craft pulsed and became invisible at times. It then pursued them before disappearing, only to be seen later following a plane. Upon returning home, Linda found her skin peeling and burned around her eyes, and both she and her daughter had purple marks on their legs. Linda's son is still traumatized, and her daughter refuses to discuss the event.

The "Flying Saucer" Incident:

Two 22-year-old bachelors, Paul Chiaro and Craig Pulloch, were driving home after an ice hockey match in Winnipeg, Canada, when their car engine and lights suddenly failed. A strange, glowing object appeared before them. Craig described it as a round disc with a 'knob' at the bottom, emitting an orange glow. He had never believed in UFOs before but was convinced by this experience. Paul, who was driving, confirmed the car stopped without warning. He tried to restart the engine unsuccessfully. The object hovered silently, described as being as large as a house. It had no visible lights, but a 'growth' on its underside. After hovering for 15-20 seconds, it vanished instantly. Moments later, the car's lights came back on, and the engine started without issue.

Police Witness Accounts:

Alan Godfrey (34): A police constable in Todmorden, England, saw an object resembling a bus, about six meters wide and five meters high, hovering half a meter above the ground. The underside was spinning, and it had dark windows and a dome. His police radio and walkie-talkie failed when he tried to report it. He began sketching the vehicle before it disappeared. Initially hesitant to report, he later learned that five other police officers in nearby Halifax had reported similar sightings around the same time. Alan's detailed diary entries revealed a fifteen-minute gap in his memory. Under hypnosis, Alan recounted being in a room with a table, experiencing fear, and being examined by beings he described as 'robots' with human-like features but lamp-like heads. He recalled being led to a bed and feeling like ice was placed on his legs. The psychiatrist eventually stopped the session due to Alan's distress. In later sessions, Alan described the examination in detail, remembering them removing his shoes and socks and looking at his toes. He also mentioned a crack in his shoe and a circular burn mark on his left foot. He expressed regret over the experience and wished others with similar experiences would come forward.

Maria (34): Recalls an encounter without hypnosis. She describes being taken from her bedroom by 'invisible hands' and experiencing physical injuries, including a hair pulled from her neck and seven needle-sized marks on her little finger. She had been confirmed pregnant twice but mysteriously was no longer pregnant by the third month. She remembers seeing a wheel of light and being told not to be afraid through thought transference. She woke up in bed with dirty feet and blood on her pillow. She has had brief memory flashes of the time she was gone, recalling being taken by three small, bronze-colored beings that smelled like rotten mushrooms. She was placed on a metal table and underwent painful procedures, including a glass tube being inserted into her nose. She believes aliens are visiting Earth and that something is happening, possibly a form of 'teaching' or a 'programmed course'.

Wilbert B. Smith: A UFOlogist's Double Life

This article profiles Wilbert B. Smith, a Canadian engineer who was a leader in Canada's official UFO project, 'Project Magnet'.

Early Life and Interest: Born in 1910, Smith graduated as an electrical engineer. In 1940, while working for the Canadian Department of Transport (DOT), he began receiving what he believed were mental messages from extraterrestrials. He kept this secret and delved into UFO literature, reading articles by Keyhoe and Frank Scully's book 'The Flying Saucers'.

Contact with Keyhoe and Sarbacher: Smith speculated that UFOs used magnetic waves and visited Keyhoe in 1950. Keyhoe was more skeptical of Scully's accounts than Smith. Later that year, Smith met with Robert Sarbacher, a consultant for the US Air Force, who confirmed that some UFOs in the possession of the US government were not of earthly origin.

DOT Research: Smith, along with others, initiated 'Project Magnet' within the DOT to gather high-quality data on UFOs. There were differing opinions on whether this was an official DOT project, with some believing it was unofficial and Smith had to persuade his chief to grant it status.

Project 'Second Storey': In 1952, UFO sightings increased, leading the Canadian government to launch a secret investigation called 'Project Second Storey', led by O.M. Solandt, with Wilbert B. Smith representing the DOT. However, Smith was the only one with a strong interest in UFOs, and the project resulted in only a few meetings.

Private Project 'Magnat': Smith continued his private project, 'Magnat'. In 1953, he wrote to Keyhoe stating they had concluded that flying saucers were likely alien spacecraft, fitting their data.

Tracking Station: Surprisingly, Smith's superiors approved his request for equipment for an electronic tracking station to register UFO activities. Scientists assisted Smith in their free time. The station gained significant media attention but was closed in August 1954, marking the end of Smith's scientific work in UFO research.

The article criticizes some UFOlogists for misusing these experiments to claim official Canadian interest in UFO research, citing a Danish example where H.C. Petersen incorrectly stated that a research project to solve the propulsion of UFOs was led by W.B. Smith and Canadians, claiming 'UFO Kontakt' spread lies and that no such US-Canada project existed.

Contacts: Smith also explored contactees, reading Adamski's books and contacting Frances Swan in Maine, whom he believed was in contact with 'The Universal Federation of Planets' through automatic writing.

The Last Year: In 1957, Keyhoe became chairman of NICAP, and Smith joined as a scientist. NICAP aimed for a factual, investigative approach. In 1958, Smith asserted that visitors were a reality. He had established a local UFO group in Ohawa in 1956. Smith's interest in the metaphysical aspects of UFOs continued until his death on December 27, 1962.

UFO Sightings in Denmark

Flying Bomerang: On August 13, 1993, a person in Denmark observed seven lights moving from north to south in a right-angle formation, disappearing within 4-5 seconds. The lights were constant, with no sound, and the object's shape was not discernible.

Two Objects near Samsö: On October 9, 1989, a student at Samsö College saw two disk-shaped objects with 12-15 white lights on their underside. The objects hovered at low altitude, making a faint buzzing sound, and then disappeared.

UFO Beings Seen near Odense: On August 18, 1993, a witness cycling home saw a large object hovering over trees. The object had three sections: a soot-brown bottom, a cabin with four windows, and a smaller cabin with one window on top. The windows emitted a strong yellow light, and the silhouette of 2-3 beings was visible inside. The object flew in front of the witness, described as round with a triangular formation of three white lights and a right-angled pipe. It turned and flew back, making no sound and emitting no exhaust. A nearby horse was agitated.

Winter Sky Around 9:00 PM

A star chart of the winter sky is included.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the phenomenon of UFOs and alleged encounters with extraterrestrials, presenting witness testimonies and research findings. There is a clear leaning towards validating these experiences, particularly through the use of hypnosis as a tool for memory retrieval. The editorial stance appears to be open to the possibility of alien visitation and suggests that governments may be withholding information. The articles often highlight the personal impact of these encounters on individuals and their families, emphasizing the fear and confusion associated with them. The magazine also touches upon the historical development of UFO research and the skepticism that surrounds it, while often presenting evidence that challenges conventional explanations.

This special issue of Hemmets Journal, titled "HJ-special: UFO i Sverige," published as issue 37/93, delves deeply into the phenomena of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and Unidentified Submerged Objects (USOs), with a particular focus on Sweden. The cover boldly asks, "Do fish-people exist in the sea with submarines that can fly?" hinting at the speculative nature of some of the content. The magazine explores the possibility of advanced underwater civilizations and their potential interaction with humanity, alongside numerous eyewitness accounts of unexplained aerial and underwater craft.

The 'Fish-People' Theory and Underwater Civilizations

The issue highlights journalist Jan-Ove Sundberg's debut book, "Fantom-ubåtarna" (Phantom Submarines), which speculates on the existence of a highly developed civilization living in the ocean depths. Sundberg draws parallels to ancient myths of sea gods like Ea (Babylonian) and Poseidon (Greek), and the figure of Oannes, described as half-man, half-fish. He references the work of underwater researcher Jacques-Yves Cousteau, who envisioned a future 'Homo Aquaticus' capable of thriving at great depths. Sundberg playfully considers if such a being already exists and poses the question of where this civilization might be located. He suggests areas like the Bermuda Triangle, the Devil's Deep in the Pacific, and the Bass Strait between Tasmania and Australia as potential locations. Notably, he also points to a 50x50 kilometer area in the Åland Sea off the coast of Sweden as a mysterious zone where people have disappeared without explanation.

Eyewitness Accounts of USOs and UFOs

The magazine compiles a series of compelling eyewitness accounts from Sweden and around the world:

• The 'Inverted Funnel': On September 24, 1961, Polish policeman Czeslaw Kawecki observed a six-meter-long black object with white stripes, resembling an inverted funnel, rise from the Baltic Sea and vanish like a jet plane. The upper part was described as resembling a submarine's conning tower with an antenna.
• Antarctic Encounter: On January 27, 1962, an Argentinian scientist, Rubens J. Villa, witnessed a ten-meter-long, submarine-like craft ascend into the sky in Western Antarctica. The event occurred near thick ice, causing large ice blocks to scatter and a forty-meter high water cascade.
• Venezuelan Sightings: In August 1967, Dr. Hugo Yepez in the Arrecife Gulf, Venezuela, saw a gray-blue, submarine-like object, ten to twelve meters long with a dome, emerge from the water. Three weeks later, Ruben Norato in Catia la Mar saw three disk-shaped objects fly out of the sea. In May 1968, five disk-shaped objects were observed diving off Arrecife, leading locals to suspect an underwater base.
• Swedish Sightings: In February 1974, Kerstin Jönsson and her son Mats observed a disk-shaped object, silver underneath and dark on top, rise from the Kattegatt near Varberg. In 1939, a woman washing laundry by Lake Magelungen on Lidingö reported seeing six intensely silver, round discs, like wheels on edge, rolling towards the horizon.
• Swedish Submarine Chases: Jan-Ove Sundberg recounts his own experiences in 1987, witnessing what he describes as unofficial submarine chases along the east coast and in the north of Sweden. He also mentions the Hårsfjärden incident in 1982, where former Army Chief Nils Sköld controversially claimed the submarine involved belonged to NATO.

Historical and Global UFO Phenomena

The issue also touches upon historical UFO reports:

• Biblical Reference: A quote from the Book of Ezekiel is presented, with the interpretation that it might describe a UFO.
• Ancient Art: Cave paintings and rock carvings in Peru, Spain, and Uzbekistan are cited by ufologists as evidence of extraterrestrial visitors.
• 16th Century Event: In 1561, Nuremberg experienced intense light phenomena in the sky, described as resembling flying saucers.
• Morkarla, Sweden (1852): A strong, flickering light was reported rising from the ground, forming a round shape in the sky before disappearing.

UFO Activity in Sweden: Locations and Statistics

The magazine maps out "UFO streaks" across Sweden, indicating areas with higher reported sightings. It notes that over 30,000 Swedes have openly reported seeing UFOs, with many more likely remaining silent due to fear of ridicule. UFO researcher Boris Jungkvist estimates that 85% of reported sightings are explainable as conventional objects like satellites, aircraft, or planets, but the remaining 15% remain unexplained. Jungkvist also highlights that UFO activity tends to increase when Mars is closer to Earth. He believes UFOs are generally benign, visiting for study purposes rather than with hostile intent.

Dalarna: A UFO Hotspot

The region of Dalarna, particularly around Smedjebacken and Ludvika, is identified as a significant hotspot for UFO sightings. Local researchers Kjell Carlsson and Benny Magnusson have spent years documenting these phenomena. They report seeing numerous mysterious lights and objects, including glowing balls and disc-like craft. Carlsson even claims to have been threatened and received death threats for his public reporting of UFOs. Magnusson recounts a chilling encounter at an old mine shaft where he and other youths saw two tall, identical figures dressed in white overalls, suggesting an extraterrestrial encounter.

Government Secrecy and Public Perception

The article touches upon the Swedish navy's alleged 5,000-7,000 classified reports on unidentified underwater activity. Jan-Ove Sundberg expresses anticipation for the day when this material is declassified, similar to how the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOA) has handled UFO reports. He shares an anecdote from a naval officer who questioned if "USOs" were the same as flying saucers, noting that they had fired upon them without effect. The fear of being labeled or ridiculed is a recurring theme, contributing to the secrecy surrounding these experiences.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the mystery of unexplained aerial and underwater phenomena, the potential for advanced extraterrestrial or even unknown terrestrial civilizations (like the 'fish-people'), and the challenges faced by witnesses in reporting their experiences. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, presenting various theories and eyewitness accounts without definitive conclusions, encouraging readers to consider the possibilities. The magazine aims to document and explore these phenomena, particularly within the Swedish context, while acknowledging the skepticism and secrecy that often surround them.

Cover Art

The cover features a striking illustration of a triangular UFO with lights, accompanied by the bold headline questioning the existence of 'fish-people' and their flying submarines. The bottom of the page includes a New Year's greeting for 1994, featuring a drawing of a Belgian triangular UFO sighting from December 1, 1989.