UFO-Nytt - 2008 No 4

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO-NYTT
Issue: Nr 4
Year: 2008
Publisher: Västerbergslagens UFO-förening
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish

This issue of UFO-NYTT presents a collection of UFO reports, investigations, and related articles, with a significant focus on sightings in the Stephenville, Texas area during early 2008. The magazine also includes an editorial, a piece on the potential for aliens to watch TV, and a report from the Amazon Delta.

Editorial: Förord (Foreword)

The editorial, written by Gudrun Andersson, expresses strong dissatisfaction with the current state of society and politics. Andersson criticizes the government's spending of taxpayer money, arguing that it should prioritize healthcare and social welfare over other projects. The author laments a perceived societal shift towards egoism and materialism, a loss of inner peace, and a pressure to conform. The piece touches on themes of societal decline and a questioning of humanity's future.

Report Summary from Field Researchers

This section compiles reports investigated by various field researchers, primarily focusing on sightings in the Stephenville, Texas region. Gary Neitzel investigated 25 observations, some dating back to 1970. Terry Groff noted the difficulty in filtering relevant reports from Stephenville, mentioning sightings of black triangles, orange explosions, and neon green orbs, alongside misidentifications like meteorites and weather balloons.

Key Incidents Detailed:

• August 15, 2007, 19:15, Lancaster, USA: A witness submitted a photograph of an object resembling one seen in a video taken by Constable Gaitin in January 2008. The witness, who wished to remain anonymous, also reported seeing creatures in some of the photos.
• December 10, 2007, 19:30, Stephenville, USA: Cecil and Misti Ford observed an oval object moving northeast and then northwest at high speed.
• December 11, 2007, 21:30, Stephenville, USA: Brian McCabe described a very large black triangle moving slowly.
• January 8, 2008, 18:29, Farm Road 1496 near Lake Proctor, USA: A witness reported seeing lights moving at high speed, initially thought to be a military formation, but noted the absence of sound. The witness's dogs were extremely frightened.
• January 8, 2008, 18:10, Highway 67, west of Chalk Mountain, USA: A witness saw two bright lights in the western sky, described as welding flames, moving rapidly in different directions.
• December 21, 2007, Old Boston, Texas, USA: A witness observed a large object, estimated to be about 1 mile long and 1/2 mile wide, with approximately 20 lights in a rectangular formation. It emitted a low humming sound and moved at high speed, obscuring stars as it passed overhead. The witness, a former US Army technician, found the object's speed to be about ten times that of a commercial airplane, at an estimated altitude of 3000 meters.
• January 8, 2008, 18-19, Fort Worth and Burleson, Texas, USA: Four reports described large stationary objects with bright lights, a cigar-shaped object moving west, and an unusual object with eight short wings.
• January 8, 2008, 18:30, Legends Golf Course, NW Stephenville, USA: A witness saw two streaks of light, like welding flames, moving at high speed and disappearing quickly. The lights were described as very bright, like bubbles with light inside.

Steve Hudgeons, Chief Investigator for MUFON Texas, states that the Texas team is still investigating over 100 reports and that similar testimonies persist, suggesting unknown phenomena that defy conventional explanations in the Erath County area.

UFO:s sprider skräck i Amazondeltat (UFOs Spread Terror in the Amazon Delta)

This article reports on villagers in the Amazon coastal regions who live in fear of alien spacecraft. These craft allegedly paralyze inhabitants with blinding light beams and drain their blood, leading to the deaths of both people and animals. The villagers refer to these craft and their occupants as 'vampires from space'. Many people claim to have been haunted by these UFOs over the past three years, with consistent reports of blood loss and marks on the chest.

ATLANTIS FUNNET - IGEN (Atlantis Found - Again)

This brief section mentions Robert Sarmast, an American who claims to have found the lost city of Atlantis after a decade of searching. However, his findings are not supported by professional archaeologists, who find his sonar images of the seabed off Cyprus unconvincing as evidence of human structures. Most researchers believe Atlantis never existed, though the article notes that the same was once said about Troy before its ruins were discovered.

Alienbesök stoppar vadslagning (Alien Visit Stops Betting)

This short news item from Aftonbladet reports that several American betting sites have stopped accepting wagers on an alien visitation, which was rumored to occur on October 14th. The intensity of these rumors led betting firms to close the market, anticipating large payouts.

TROR DU PÅ DET HÄR???? (Do You Believe This????)

This article recounts an interview with a man who left his job, wife, and children to understand how crop circles are formed. He approached the subject from a scientific perspective, concluding that the circles could only be created by some form of energy or radiation that bends stalks. He describes the circles as growing in a lying position, regular and untangled. The man also spoke of a strange stillness and vibration within the circles. He had witnessed circles appear overnight after he had fallen asleep. While he spoke like an engineer, he thought like a mystic, open to the possibility of extraterrestrial involvement. The article notes that crop circles often appear near ancient cult sites, suggesting a connection beyond mere physical phenomena. The man's strong will to believe and his free-floating spirit were key to his research.

Kan utomjordningar se TV från Jorden? (Can Aliens Watch TV from Earth?)

This section features an illustration of aliens watching television. It is accompanied by a brief article titled "Framtidens rymdskepp får svart låda" (Future Spaceships Get a Black Box). The article explains that a prototype 'black box' was used to record the final moments of the Columbia space shuttle and that NASA is developing such devices for future missions. These boxes will be approximately 30 cm in diameter and weigh about one kilogram.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFO sightings, alien encounters, and unexplained aerial phenomena, with a strong emphasis on investigative reports from field researchers. The magazine appears to lean towards presenting evidence and witness testimonies, while also exploring more speculative and sensational aspects of the UFO phenomenon. The editorial stance, as expressed by Gudrun Andersson, is critical of societal and political priorities, suggesting a broader concern for humanity's direction beyond just UFOs. The inclusion of a piece on Atlantis and the potential for alien TV viewing indicates a willingness to explore various fringe and speculative topics within the UFO community.

This issue of UFO-RAPPORTER. is dated July 1996 and features a report on a UFO sighting by Lena Gustafsson. The magazine covers a range of UFO and unexplained phenomena reports from various locations and time periods.

Lena Gustafsson Sighting

Lena Gustafsson reported an incident during her summer break in 1996. While awake late at night, she observed an egg-shaped, pulsating neon green object, approximately the size of an American football, gliding about 5-6 meters from her window and 3 meters above the ground. The object moved along the road and disappeared from view within 4-8 seconds. During the sighting, her television experienced static ('TV-brus') which resolved immediately after the object vanished. The time of the sighting was estimated to be between 01:00 and 02:00. A sketch of the observation area was provided by Gudrun Andersson.

Historical UFO Cases

General Yoritsune's Observation (1235)

The issue highlights what is claimed to be the first official attempt to explain flying saucers, originating not from America but from Japan in 1235. General Yoritsune observed mysterious lights swinging and circling in the southern sky for an entire night. The official explanation given was that the wind caused the stars to 'swing'.

Dr. Donald Menzell and Atmospheric Optics (1949)

A significant observation occurred on April 24, 1949, when Charles B Moore and naval personnel observed a weather balloon using a theodolite. Moore also noted an unidentified flying object (UFO) simultaneously. He recorded the object's azimuth and altitude, noting a 190-degree change in azimuth over 60 seconds and a 120-degree angle between the first and last observation. Dr. Donald Menzell, in his book 'Flying Saucers', suggested this was an 'effect of atmospheric refraction'. However, Dr. Bruce Maccabee, a physicist, argued that Menzell made significant errors, particularly regarding the wide angle of observation which would not permit refraction. Menzell's account in his book reportedly omitted the actual observed angle, assuming a wider one that would support his theory. The report from the Navy Special Devices Center is mentioned as containing these details.

Cattle Mutilation Phenomenon

The magazine discusses the unexplained phenomenon of cattle mutilation, which began to increase significantly in 1973 in the USA, particularly in Minnesota and Kansas. Reports indicated that the dead animals, primarily cows, showed no signs of bullet or knife wounds but were missing various body parts like eyes, ears, lips, rectums, and reproductive organs, all removed precisely. No footprints or other signs of human involvement were found. Many reports also claimed the animals were drained of blood without any spillage. Local police were baffled. While a pathologist report suggested disease as the cause of death in some cases, it did not explain the precise organ removal. Theories included satanic cults and extraterrestrial involvement. A blue briefcase containing medical gloves, a bloody scalpel, and a cow's ear found near a rancher's mailbox in Lincoln County, Colorado, fueled conspiracy theories, further supported by reports of unmarked helicopters. By the late 1970s, over 1000 unexplained cattle deaths had occurred.

An FBI investigation led by agent Kenneth Rommel concluded that predators and scavengers were responsible, a conclusion met with protests due to its perceived inadequacy in explaining the precise nature of the mutilations. The article notes that while the public reports strange events more often than is believed, police often avoid cases that appear unsolvable.

Rendlesham Forest Incident (1980)

This section details the Rendlesham Forest incident, described as one of the most significant military UFO encounters. It occurred in December 1980 near two US Air Force bases in Suffolk, UK. Two USAF guards initially saw strange lights, and three guards were dispatched to investigate. They reported seeing a metallic, triangular object, 2-3 meters long and 2 meters high, emitting white light, pulsating red light on top, and blue lights underneath. The object hovered or stood on legs, then moved away between the trees and disappeared. It was sighted again an hour later. The following day, three indentations were found on the ground where the object had been, and radiation measurements (0.1 milliroentgen Beta/gamma) were taken. Later that night, an intense red light was seen moving and pulsating, splitting into five separate white objects before disappearing. Three star-shaped objects were then seen in the sky, moving rapidly in sharp, angular paths and emitting red, green, and blue lights. The report was written by Lieutenant Colonel Charles Halt and released nearly three years later due to freedom of information legislation.

Other Sightings and Reports

Maidstone, Kent, UK (1992)

Police in Maidstone, Kent, are accustomed to strange sightings near Blue Bell Hill. On November 8, 1992, a driver named Ian Sharpe reported hitting a woman who suddenly appeared in the road. He was visibly shaken, but no trace of the woman was ever found.

Michigan Family Observation (2005)

On December 3, 2005, Patty Donahue from Wacousta, Michigan, observed a phenomenon described as an enormous, bright white light beam stretching from horizon to horizon. The beam appeared suddenly, making the stars vanish. It moved from west to east and then south, appearing to follow a curve of the earth like a rainbow. The beam had sharp edges and seemed to be at a moderate altitude. Numerous flashing lights, possibly aircraft or helicopters, were seen to the southwest where the light beam ended. The phenomenon disappeared as quickly as it appeared, and no investigation was conducted.

Bus Passengers in Sweden (1993)

An anonymous witness reported that on the last Friday of November 1993, bus passengers traveling between Hedemora and Säter in Sweden observed four 'objects' flying in formation. The objects moved slowly, appearing to glide. They were observed for 30-40 seconds, moving from north to south. The witness and the bus driver discussed the event afterward, unable to find a reasonable explanation. The witness's 12-year-old son also clearly remembered the event. The objects had a solid body with sharp contours, and the light was constant. The experience created an uncomfortable and tense atmosphere on the bus.

Light Phenomenon in Skinnskatteberg, Sweden (1993)

Earlier on the same journey, the bus driver drew the witness's attention to a bright, orange-red light that was following the bus on its left side. Initially thought to be a fighter jet, the light stopped and then moved away with incredible speed, disappearing from view after about 2 minutes. The contours of the light were indistinct.

Evreux, France (1998)

On December 1, 1998, a motorist driving through Evreux, France, observed a triangular UFO hovering at an altitude of 20-30 meters. The object was estimated to be 40 meters in size and had a speed comparable to a military aircraft. It featured a series of eight white windows and a sharp, rotating reddish light underneath. As the UFO passed silently overhead towards the Fanvilles airfield, all electrical systems in the car, including the engine, radio, and headlights, failed for 30 seconds. The engine eventually restarted after a brief pause. The witness reported the incident to the local authorities, who gave a polite dismissal, and a local newspaper published an article about the event.

Klurigheter (Riddles)

This section contains three riddles:

1. The Handshake Problem: Eleven girls at a party exchange a farewell kiss with each other. The question is how many kisses were exchanged.
* Answer: 66 kisses. (The first girl gives 10, the second 9, and so on, down to the last girl giving 0. The sum is 10+9+8+7+6+5+4+3+2+1+0 = 55. However, the provided answer is 66. This implies a different calculation, perhaps n*(n-1)/2 where n=11, which is 11*10/2 = 55. The text states: "Den första damen som sade adjö gav 11 kyssar, den andra 10 o.s.v = 66 kyssar." This implies the first person gave 11, the second 10, etc., which would be 11+10+9+8+7+6+5+4+3+2+1 = 66.)

2. The Duckling Riddle: A disobedient duckling wanted to cross a river but could not fly, jump, or swim over. The mother had forbidden it to swim. How did it cross?
* Answer: The duckling was disobedient and swam over despite its mother's prohibition.

3. The Director's Employees: A director, Lucifer Jonsson, was asked about the number of employees in his firm. He stated that there were equal numbers of men and women, but if he included himself, each woman had only half as many female colleagues as male colleagues. How many people were in the firm?
* Answer: Three women and four men, including the director. (Let W be the number of women and M be the number of men. Total employees = W + M. If the director is male, then M = 4, W = 3. Total = 7. Director's statement: M = W. If director is included, then M = W+1. Each woman has W-1 female colleagues and M male colleagues. So, W-1 = M/2. Substituting M=W+1: W-1 = (W+1)/2 => 2W-2 = W+1 => W=3. Then M=3+1=4. Total = 3+4=7.)

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, unexplained aerial phenomena, and historical mysteries. The magazine presents a variety of cases, from personal accounts of sightings to more documented incidents involving military personnel. There's a clear interest in exploring unexplained events and challenging conventional explanations, as seen in the critique of Dr. Menzell's theories and the discussion of the cattle mutilation phenomenon. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these phenomena, presenting evidence and witness accounts while also acknowledging the skepticism and conventional explanations offered by authorities. The inclusion of riddles suggests a playful element alongside the serious investigation of mysteries.

This issue of UFO-Aktuellt, dated 2008 and identified as issue number 20, is published by Västerbergslagens UFO-förening. The cover prominently features a striking image related to space exploration, specifically a crater on Mars containing frozen water, alongside a headline about this discovery. Other cover elements hint at UFO sightings and astronomical news.

Articles and Content

Historical UFO Sightings and Encounters

The magazine delves into several historical accounts of unusual aerial phenomena. One article recounts an event in Merkel, Texas, on April 26, 1897, where a group of people witnessed a heavy object dragging along the ground, which was identified as an anchor attached to a rope. They observed a 'Luftskepp' (airship) with lights, from which a short man in a blue sailor's costume descended via the rope. This individual then cut the rope, and the airship departed, leaving the anchor behind.

Another account describes a similar incident in Cloera, Ireland, where parishioners heard a noise on the roof of St. Kinarius church and found an anchor stuck to the eaves. The anchor's rope led upwards to a hovering craft. A man descended, spoke with the parishioners, cut the rope, and returned to the craft. This event is dated to 1211 AD, not 1897 as initially suggested.

The issue also touches upon encounters with entities that predate modern UFO sightings. It references St. Antonius of Alexandria, who around 300 AD, encountered a small, hooded creature with a horned forehead and goat-like hooves, describing it as a 'pyssling' (sprite or gnome).

An article, purportedly taken from Whitley Strieber's book 'Närkontakt' (Close Encounters), discusses how our perception of visitors might evolve culturally. It mentions an entity known as 'Ishtar' who claimed to be ancient.

UFOs and Military Encounters

Under the heading 'Ufo-hemligheter ut i ljuset' (UFO secrets brought to light), the magazine reports on previously secret documents from the British Ministry of Defence. These documents reveal instances of military and civilian aircraft encountering unknown objects in the air over Great Britain. One incident involved an American jet plane nearly firing 24 missiles at an unknown radar echo. Pilot Milton Torres described the object as so large it almost burned a hole in the screen. Professor David Clarke is quoted, noting that if the object had been a civilian aircraft off course, it could have led to a catastrophe. The object reportedly disappeared at high speed. Another document details a near-collision between an Italian Alitalia plane and a missile-like object over the English Channel on April 21, 1991.

Astronomical Discoveries

'Krater på Mars rymmer sjö av fruset vatten' (Crater on Mars holds lake of frozen water) reports on a discovery by the European Mars Express probe. The probe photographed a large ice mass, approximately ten kilometers in diameter, located in a crater on the Vasitas Borealis plains of Mars. This ice remains frozen due to the crater's deep shadow and Mars' thin atmosphere. The article notes that while ice on Mars has been detected before, this is the first time such a phenomenon has been photographed with a high-resolution stereo camera.

'Jättestjärna skapar chockvåg i rymden' (Giant star creates shockwave in space) discusses the advanced Hubble telescope's detailed images of the supernova remnant N63A. This remnant is expelling gas, creating shockwaves that, in normal circumstances, would form new stars. However, in this case, the shockwaves are so powerful they are tearing apart gas formations. The article also mentions that these shockwaves will eventually enrich the surrounding gas clouds with elements, facilitating the birth of new stars.

'Rymdkamera hittar 100 000 nya stjärnor' (Space camera finds 100,000 new stars) reports on NASA's Spitzer telescope's infrared camera observations of the Carina nebula. The images reveal that up to 100,000 new stars of various sizes are being born within the nebula, formed from gas and dust clouds torn apart by stellar winds and radiation from massive stars.

Other Content

The magazine includes a humorous anecdote about a driver in Vindeln, Sweden, who mistook a police car for a UFO and failed to stop. The driver was fined.

There are also several short, humorous pieces and anecdotes, including:

• 'Folk är olika' (People are different) - a joke about party-goers.
• 'Ursäkta mig...' (Excuse me...) - a story about a woman who lost a tissue from her bra.
• 'Vaket iakttaget' (Awake observation) - a short dialogue about dreams.
• 'I fruktaffären' (In the fruit shop) - a joke about a tourist mistaking a melon for an apple.
• 'Benigt' (Thin/Scrawny) - a joke about a bald man at a hairdresser.
• 'Myggfritt' (Mosquito-free) - a joke about mosquitoes in winter.
• 'Rätt svar' (Correct answer) - a joke about the location of the heart.
• 'Väl tilltaget' (Well-provided) - a joke about a loan for a drive-in cinema.
• 'Rätt medicin' (Right medicine) - a joke about a prescription for laughter.
• 'Romantiskt' (Romantic) - a joke about a couple on a walk.
• 'Ingen risk' (No risk) - a joke about a driving test.
• 'Modigt mode' (Brave fashion) - a joke about an expensive tie.

Competitions and Information

A 'PRISTÄVLING' (Prize competition) asks readers to match melodies with composers, with prizes of lottery tickets. The answers are to be sent to Västerbergslagens UFO-förening by December 15, 2008.

There is also a section titled 'Hur många stjärnor kan man se?' (How many stars can one see?), stating that a person with average vision can see about 3000 stars with the naked eye on a clear night.

A 'SOMMARKURS I BEMANNAD RYMDFART' (Summer course in manned spaceflight) is announced, organized by the Department of Space Science in Kiruna. The two-week course will provide insight into the technical and physical requirements for sending humans into space, though actual spaceflights will not occur; students will experience simulated weightlessness.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the intersection of unexplained phenomena, historical mysteries, and scientific advancements. There's a clear interest in UFO sightings, both historical and contemporary, and a willingness to present documented evidence, such as declassified military reports. Alongside these serious topics, the publication maintains a lighthearted tone with numerous jokes and humorous anecdotes, suggesting an aim to engage a broad audience interested in the unusual and the unexplained, while also providing factual information on astronomy and space exploration. The inclusion of literary excerpts and competitions further broadens its appeal.