UFO-Nytt - 1997 No 3

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO Nytt
Issue: 3
Volume: 1997
Publisher: Västerbergslagens UFO Förening
Country: Sweden
Original Language: Swedish

Editorial and Contents

The issue opens with a foreword by Gudrun Andersson, reflecting on the changing seasons and the slow progress of UFO work. Andersson expresses a desire for more excitement in the subject and highlights the need for a strong leader. She mentions upcoming events, including the national meeting (Riksstämman) the following year, and a 'Hessdalen week' in the autumn. The foreword also encourages members to share their opinions.

The table of contents lists several articles:

• ASTRONOMI... KLIPP... KLIPP: Astronomy-related news.
• RAPPORTER: Reports section.
• UNDERSÖKT AV RYMDVARELSER?: Investigated by space creatures?
• MÖTE MED FLYGANDE TEFAT": Meeting with flying saucers.
• PLANETEN MARS: Planet Mars.
• LIVETS UTVECKLING: Development of life.
• FRÅN DANSKA UFO-NYTT: From Danish UFO-Nytt.
• "FLYGANDE TEFAT" 50 ÅR...: "Flying Saucers" 50 Years...

Astronomy Section

This section details an upcoming total lunar eclipse on September 16th, starting at 18:11 and becoming total at 20:15, visible in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Brazil. The next total lunar eclipse visible in Sweden will be on January 21, 2000. It also lists planets visible in September: Venus and Mars in the southwest, Jupiter in the southeast, Saturn in the southwest at night, and Mercury in the east in the morning. The clocks will be set back on the night of October 25-26. Venus and Mars will be close together in the southwest during twilight in October.

"Har universum golv och tak?" (Does the universe have a floor and ceiling?)

This article reports on new findings by American physicists Borge Nodland (University of Rochester) and John Ralston (University of Kansas). Their analysis of radio waves from 160 distant galaxies suggests that these waves rotate, indicating a possible 'axis' running through the universe. This discovery, if confirmed, could challenge fundamental aspects of Einstein's theory of relativity and the Big Bang model, potentially opening the door to the existence of other universes. The researchers suggest the axis runs towards the constellation Sextans in one direction and Aquila in the other.

"Sopberg i rymden förstör satelliter" (Space junk in space destroys satellites)

This article highlights the growing problem of space debris in Earth's orbit, estimating over 3.5 million man-made objects. It warns that this debris could make space travel impossible within 50 years. The debris consists mainly of fragments from exploded satellites and rocket stages. A European Ariane rocket explosion in 1986 is cited as an example, leaving around 465 large and 2,300 small debris pieces. The speed of these fragments is over ten kilometers per second, causing significant damage. The American satellite LDEF, recovered after six years, showed 40,000 microscopic holes per square meter, primarily from collisions with tiny metal bits. The risk of the Hubble telescope being destroyed is estimated at least one percent. The article notes that protecting satellites from this 'scrap' is difficult, and astronaut safety is also at risk, with a 95% probability of a space shuttle being seriously damaged during 50 flights. The situation could become critical if the number of orbiting objects triples within 50 years.

"ARKEOLOGISKT FYND I MEXIKO" (Archaeological find in Mexico)

This brief section mentions the discovery of fifty perfectly preserved clay figures in Teotihuacán, Mexico. These figures are believed to depict the life story of a powerful woman and date back to between 250 and 400 AD. Teotihuacán was one of the earliest highly developed societies in the Americas.

Undersökningsgruppen (Investigation Group)

This section details the activities of the investigation group. They report a quiet summer with few new reports, but plan to share older reports in upcoming issues. They acknowledge that UFOs still carry a negative stigma, making people hesitant to report sightings. The group is looking for active members to assist with UFO reporting and investigation, mentioning that UFO Sverige offers field researcher courses.

Reported Sightings:

• Sune Eriksson (Mora, May 18, 1997): Observed a star-like object moving very rapidly horizontally towards the east for about 20 seconds before disappearing.
• Bo Carlsson (Falun, January 13, 1997): Described a bright light in the sky, with a white center and yellowish-white and faint yellow-orange hues, estimated at 400 meters away and 400 meters up, moving in a wide, silent arc.
• Bojan Göräng (Dala Husby, circa 1900s): Six witnesses saw a long, spindle-shaped craft, about 10-15 meters long, moving over a building and a church tower at an estimated altitude of 30 meters, before disappearing south along a river.
• Tommy Halvarsson (Långshyttan, August 1994): Saw a bright light that appeared to illuminate a large farm in flames, but found nothing upon investigation.
• Bengt Karlsson (Stora Skedvi, August 20, 1996): Observed a steady yellow light moving at high speed from west-southwest to east-northeast.
• Anonym (Horndal, November-December 1980): Witnesses saw a red light that later turned white and yellow, performing a U-turn and passing over their car at treetop height, estimated to be 100 meters away and 40 meters in size.
• Anonym (Stora Skedvi, 1965-67): Three people in a car orienteering event saw a yellow and red light phenomenon moving from west to east.
• Aina Åsberg (Stora Skedvi, May 1966-67): Saw a strong red light that moved silently west to east, described as cylinder-shaped with illuminated windows. She stated it was not an airplane.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently features reports of UFO sightings from Sweden, detailing specific observations of lights, objects, and their movements. There is a clear focus on investigating and documenting these phenomena. The editorial stance, as expressed in the foreword, indicates a desire for more dynamic activity within the UFO organization and a recognition of the challenges posed by public perception and the slow pace of significant events. The inclusion of astronomy and space debris articles suggests a broader interest in related scientific and technological topics within the UFO community.

This issue of Hemmets Journal, dated July-August 1991 (Volume 1991, Issue 10), focuses on unexplained phenomena, UFO sightings, and scientific speculation about extraterrestrial life and the origins of life on Earth. The cover prominently features a dramatic illustration of a UFO encounter with the headline "Mitt i natten mötte Britt, 36, ett flygande tefat på vägen" (In the middle of the night, Britt, 36, met a flying saucer on the road).

Witness Accounts of UFOs and Encounters

The magazine presents several detailed accounts from individuals who claim to have witnessed UFOs or experienced encounters.

Stora Skedvi, Sweden (1991)

An anonymous witness from Stora Skedvi reported seeing a strong, unidentified light on a road between 24:00 and 01:00 in July or August 1991. The phenomenon lasted for approximately 8-10 minutes. The witness described being blinded by a strong light and then seeing a luminous phenomenon that he estimated to be 80 meters long and 15 meters high, observed from a distance of 100-150 meters. He felt compelled to get out of his car to observe it and was unable to understand what it was. The experience left him unable to sleep for several hours.

A drawing accompanying this report depicts the location, including a road, a junction, a fire station ('Brandstation'), a church ('Kyrkberget'), and a place labeled 'Krista' and 'Åkervägen' (farm road). The drawing also shows a circular object with radiating lines, labeled 'Jult Nött Sten' (which may be a misinterpretation or a personal note).

Stora Skedvi, Sweden (1989)

Inger Grummas and Lena reported an incident in Stora Skedvi in February 1989, during the late 1980s. While jogging in the evening, they heard a dull 'thud' and about 10 minutes later saw a gulf-colored sphere emitting a strong light, moving over the treetops from the northwest. It appeared for a moment and then suddenly disappeared.

This section also includes a prompt for readers to draw their observations of phenomena, suggesting details like wings, smoke, and the movement of objects relative to celestial bodies.

Clacton and Corby, England (1983)

Rosalind Reynolds and her boyfriend Philip recounted an experience in September 1983 between Clacton and Corby, England. They saw a strange, horseshoe-shaped light in the sky with an unusual blue glow that made everything appear like a photographic negative. They also detected an unpleasant smell, like rotten eggs. As they tried to drive away, their car's engine stalled, and the headlights went out. Twenty meters away, they saw a brightly lit ball containing a craft. After they got back into the car and drove away, the craft ascended rapidly at high speed. They discovered that three hours had passed, and they had no memory of what happened during that time. This experience significantly changed them, and they no longer associate. Rosalind began writing down prophetic thoughts and underwent hypnotherapy, during which she recalled being taken aboard a craft by four alien beings who examined them. She also noted that she can no longer wear wristwatches, as they stop when she puts them on. Rosalind believes they are being monitored and treated like 'soulless livestock' by beings without moral scruples.

Moss, Norway (Date unspecified, late 1980s/early 1990s)

Britt Kirsten Pedersen (36) from Moss, Norway, along with two friends, experienced a strange event on a dark August night. While driving between Fredrikstad and Moss, they saw an unusual light in the sky. When they stopped to observe it, the light vanished. Later, as they drove, they heard a strange humming sound, their car's high beams failed, and the car felt charged with electricity. They experienced discomfort and difficulty breathing. Near a shopping center, the road ahead was illuminated by a strong light. Their car's engine faltered, and the vehicle seemed to lift off the ground. The car veered to the right and stopped. They then saw a strange craft, described as cylinder-shaped with pointed wings, spinning and approaching them at high speed. The craft hovered silently for several seconds, appearing only a few meters from their windshield, with red, yellow, and green lights along its wings. Suddenly, all lights went out. Britt described the craft as about one meter long and half a meter wide, while her friends estimated it to be ten times larger and higher up. After the craft emitted a humming sound and moved away, it disappeared. The women were in shock and had difficulty sleeping. The next day, Britt contacted Ole Gunnar Røed of UFO Norge. Investigations with airports and the military yielded no explanations. Britt also reported experiencing unusual reactions, feeling weak and having butterfly-shaped rashes on her neck, and receiving telepathic messages. She is hesitant to share more due to fear of being considered crazy.

Britt's Drawing and UFO Norge

A drawing accompanies Britt's account, showing a craft described as UFO-like, made of some kind of shiny metal. The accompanying text notes that the friends disagree on the size of the craft but agree on its material. Britt is eager to understand how time could have 'disappeared' and wonders if they were taken aboard a spaceship.

Scientific Discussions: Mars and the Origin of Life

The issue also includes articles exploring scientific concepts related to extraterrestrial life and the origins of life.

Planet Mars

An excerpt from Michael W. Ovenden's book "Liv på andra planeter" (Life on Other Planets) discusses Mars as a potential candidate for life within our solar system. It notes that the temperature range for active life is narrow, limited to a zone about 120 million km wide, which includes Venus, Earth, and Mars. While Venus is covered by a thick cloud layer, Mars has an average surface temperature of around -40°C, with summer temperatures at the poles reaching +21°C and winter temperatures dropping to -90°C. The equatorial zone has less variation. The article suggests that life forms on Mars might exist in a latent state, becoming active only during warmer periods for reproduction. Mars orbits the sun in about 700 Earth days and rotates on its axis in 24.5 hours. Daily temperature variations are theoretically similar to Earth's equator (around 45 degrees) in desert regions, but generally less due to the thinner atmosphere.

Martian Features

The article "En Rostig Öken" (A Rusty Desert) describes Mars's predominantly orange-red surface, attributed to iron oxides (limonite) due to the lack of oxygen. It also discusses blue-green formations on Mars, which are irregular and change in form and color with the seasons. Hypotheses suggest these could be minerals affected by polar moisture or volcanic activity, but the author favors the theory that they are vegetation growing during the short Martian summer.

Martian Canals and Other Planetary Systems

Another section, "Marsgator: 'Kanaler' och Phobos" (Mars Canals: 'Channels' and Phobos), discusses the historical debate about 'canals' on Mars, observed as fine, straight lines. While some observers saw them, others did not. The article acknowledges the human eye's tendency to connect random details into lines and notes that while some large 'channels' are visible in photographs, the fine network remains debated. The section "Finns det andra planetsystem?" (Are there other planetary systems?) briefly touches upon the possibility of life on planets orbiting other stars.

The Origin and Future of Life on Earth

An article titled "Livets utveckling på jorden" (The Development of Life on Earth) explores theories about the origin of life, including Svante Arrhenius's theory of life being transported by meteorites. It discusses the conditions necessary for life to emerge from non-living matter, suggesting the need for highly organized atomic structures and a 'sticky material' to facilitate the formation of complex molecules. The concept of 'primordial life' ('urliv') is discussed, with theories placing its origin in wet, muddy banks at river mouths or even before Earth's formation, within planetesimals.

"Livets framtid på jorden" (The Future of Life on Earth) considers the long-term stability of the sun and suggests that Mars might be considered a younger planet than Earth from a life-development perspective, with potentially greater future evolutionary possibilities.

Greenland Ice Age Discovery

A separate news item reports on a geological discovery suggesting that Greenland was covered by ice five million years earlier than previously thought, based on analysis of stones found on the seabed. This pushes back the estimated start of the ice ages.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are unexplained aerial phenomena, the possibility of extraterrestrial life, and scientific inquiry into the origins and development of life. The magazine presents witness accounts of UFOs and alleged encounters with a degree of seriousness, while also including scientific articles that explore possibilities on Mars and the fundamental questions of life's origins. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-mindedness towards unexplained phenomena, coupled with an interest in scientific exploration and understanding. The inclusion of reader drawings and prompts suggests an engagement with the readership on these topics.

This issue of UFONYTT, dated 1997, focuses on the 50th anniversary of the term "flying saucer" and explores historical UFO sightings and related phenomena. The cover headline proclaims "Flying Saucers Turn Fifty This Summer." The issue includes articles detailing early UFO reports, investigations, and personal accounts of alleged extraterrestrial contact.

Early UFO Reports and Investigations

The issue begins by recounting an incident from July 1952, where a person from the Veteran Administration Hospital in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, reported seeing "saucer-like objects" over Augusta, Maine, in 1947. These objects were described as rotating, about 15 meters in diameter, and emitting smoke. This report, along with 12 other observations from 1947, was filed under Project Blue Book. The article notes that Herbert Strontz obtained over 30 reels of microfilm from the Blue Book archives, containing clippings and UFO-related information, which were sent to Barry Greenwood of Citizens Against UFO Secrecy (CAUS).

Another witness, inspired by a Life Magazine article, reported seeing a slow-moving, elliptical, red-orange glowing object in Birmingham, England, in 1947. This object, described as being the size of the moon, was observed by a couple who were professional painters and sculptors. The report is now housed at the Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS).

The year 1947 is highlighted as a period with thousands of UFO reports flooding newspapers and private archives. Researcher Ted Bloecher collected over 850 reports from 1947, primarily from North American newspapers. Loren Gross also reviewed Californian newspapers from 1947, finding 142 additional observations. Project 1947, a research initiative, has since compiled approximately 3,800 read newspapers and around 2,700 UFO reports. The article notes that while newspapers initially covered UFO sightings extensively, including the Kenneth Arnold sighting on June 24 and the Roswell incident on July 10, interest waned after official explanations, except for the Roswell case, which was eventually dismissed.

Despite the media's declining interest, reports continued to emerge. In Boise, Idaho, on August 22, 1947, two pilots and an instructor observed two objects on the ground, one with a flat underside and domed top, which rotated and exhibited erratic movements when flying over mountains.

As US media lost interest, UFO sightings were reported along the Canadian coast, in South America (Chile and Argentina), and even in Africa, India, and Australia. The US government also translated Chinese newspapers, revealing UFO reports from that region. Japan also reported UFO sightings from its bases.

European Sightings and "Foo Fighters"

The issue discusses UFO activity in Europe, estimating around 100 reports. Censorship was noted in German and Austrian newspapers. Reports also emerged from Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, England, Hungary, and Belgium. London and Paris newspapers often attributed the phenomenon to American occurrences, but sightings were also reported from Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester, Northern Ireland, and France, as well as India, Hong Kong, and Singapore, suggesting more European sightings than initially thought. Scandinavian researchers have some sporadic reports, but a comprehensive overview requires examining local archives.

The article also touches upon "Foo Fighters," luminous objects observed during World War II. Martin Caidin's book "Black Thursday" is mentioned in relation to sightings during an attack in Schweinfurt. Reports from the 42 Bomb Wing describe swarms of luminous objects descending slowly at an altitude of 3,500 meters on October 18, 1944. The New York Times reported American pilots seeing luminous spheres over Germany in December 1944. The article notes that only reports published in newspapers reached Washington, not those from war zones. A bulletin from January 28, 1945, mentioned "Light Spheres" seen below 3000 meters. On June 4, 1945, a bulletin from Japan reported on sightings, and it was suggested that German technology, including missiles like H5 298, H5 293,x4, and H5 177, might have been shared with Japanese allies. Multiple bomber crews reported being pursued by "red fireballs" near Kawasaki, described as basketball-sized with a phosphorescent glow, which could change altitude and course. One B-29 reported evading such a fireball for six minutes. A sphere reportedly followed a plane for nearly 50 km over the sea, suggesting it was radio-controlled, and was considered a new weapon developed by the enemy.

Sten Lindgren and Extraterrestrial Contact

The issue features Sten Lindgren, author of "Dialog med kosmisk kultur" (Dialogue with Cosmic Culture), who has dedicated forty years to studying experiences with "foreign civilizations." Lindgren recounts an experience in the late summer of 1957 when he and friends observed a yellowish-green luminous object, about 10 meters in diameter, hovering for several minutes before accelerating rapidly.

Lindgren is also involved with the "Arbetsgruppen för utomjordisk kontakt" (Working Group for Extraterrestrial Contact). The group gained attention when they requested a meeting with Prime Minister Göran Persson to discuss relations with alien cultures, a request that was politely declined due to the Prime Minister's busy schedule.

Lindgren claims to have been in contact with an "extraterrestrial brotherhood" since the mid-1960s. He believes these beings provide "associative images" to promote human development and maturity. He suggests that thoughts exist in the universe that humans can capture by clearing their minds.

The article mentions other UFO experiences documented in Lindgren's book, including a mass sighting of aerial phenomena across Sweden on October 29, 1965, which Lindgren claims to have known about three weeks in advance. He described seeing thirty large cigar-shaped motherships and numerous smaller craft. Eyewitnesses included Olof Lagercrantz, editor-in-chief of Dagens Nyheter, who compared the silent phenomenon to a "train with lit windows."

Lindgren also recounts an incident where a craft hovered over the TV-Aktuellt offices in Stockholm. He states that in the spring of 1969, TV producers Ulf Hultberg and Mona Sjöström, along with Allan Hernelius and Jeanette von Heidenstam, observed a "bus-sized" craft radiating light near Gnesta.

According to Lindgren, over 150 UFO observations were made in Vallentuna and Sigtuna between 1973 and 1975. The most significant UFO activity in Sweden, he claims, occurred from January 9-22, 1985, with over 250 observations reported in Dalarna, involving various craft types that caused car engines to stall.

Lindgren emphasizes the importance of establishing a dialogue between politicians, statesmen, religious leaders, and cosmic beings. He proposes creating a diplomatic channel. He notes that while the Prime Minister is occupied with terrestrial matters, Lindgren and his associates continue to maintain extraterrestrial contacts.

The article also mentions Marcel Westerlund, a psychiatrist and Lindgren's close associate, who reported seeing a spaceship about thirty meters away with his family during a car trip, describing it as a "fantastic experience."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the historical significance of UFO sightings, particularly the 1947 wave, the nature of "Foo Fighters" during WWII, and the ongoing possibility of extraterrestrial contact and communication. The magazine appears to present these topics with a degree of seriousness, featuring accounts from researchers, eyewitnesses, and authors like Sten Lindgren, who advocates for open dialogue with alien civilizations. The editorial stance leans towards exploring these phenomena as potentially real and significant, encouraging further investigation and open-mindedness, while also acknowledging skepticism and the need for scientific rigor.