UFO-Syd Information - 1979 No 4-5

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO - SYD INFORMATION
Issue: 4/5
Date: August 31, 1979
Publisher: Föreningen UFO-SYD
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish

This issue of UFO-SYD INFORMATION, a Swedish publication from the UFO-SYD organization, marks a rebranding and aims to disseminate information more broadly within the UFO community. The cover prominently features the headline "DEN DAG KAN KOMMA DÅ VI VAKNAR..." (The Day May Come When We Wake Up...), hinting at a theme of awareness and preparedness regarding UFO phenomena.

Editorial: "DEN DAG KAN KOMMA DÅ VI VAKNAR..."

The editorial, penned by NANNE, reflects on the summer of 1979 and the growth of the UFO-SYD organization. It announces the name change to UFO-SYD INFORMATION to reach a wider audience. A significant development is the establishment of a collaboration with an internationally known electro-technical researcher, enabling the organization to tackle UFO issues with modern technical and scientific resources. The organization has also secured a meeting location at Romeleklint. Membership has grown to 27, but the editorial urges more members to participate in meetings to foster a collaborative spirit. The piece notes that police and mass media are beginning to take UFOs more seriously. The editorial then delves into the profound implications of potential contact with an extraterrestrial civilization, questioning humanity's readiness and capacity to handle such an event, given its often short-sighted and self-centered nature. It suggests that such contact could lead to passivity or even armed resistance, with potentially catastrophic outcomes. The author encourages readers to contemplate this possibility and to be mentally prepared for such an event, believing that this preparedness is a prerequisite for extraterrestrial contact.

FÖRENINGSNYTT (Organization News)

This section details the organization's activities and administrative matters.

Aktiviteter (Activities)

• Månadsmöte (Monthly Meeting): Scheduled for Saturday, September 22, 1979, at 3:00 PM, meeting at Kämnärsvägen 2:168 in Lund for departure to Romelestugan.
• Temakväll (Theme Night): Scheduled for Sunday, September 23, 1979, at 3:00 PM, meeting at Kämnärsvägen 2:168 in Lund for departure to Romelestugan.
• Observationsnätter (Observation Nights): Scheduled for Sunday, September 9, 1979, at 8:00 PM, and Sunday, September 23, 1979, at 8:00 PM. Participants will gather at Kämnärsvägen 2:168 in Lund and travel to Romeleklint by 8:30 PM. Those wishing to attend must notify the organization by 6:00 PM via phone (046-13 60 01). Observation nights may be canceled if fewer than 5 participants register.

21-lotteriet (21-Lottery)

To fund increased operational costs, the organization launched a continuous 21-lottery approximately two months prior, aiming to sell 1,000 tickets per month, or about 50 tickets per member per month. The appeal is made to members to help sell the lottery tickets, which can be picked up at meetings or by arrangement at Kämnärsvägen 2:168 in Lund. The organization warns that a drastic reduction in activities will be necessary if ticket sales do not improve.

NY NÄRKONTAKT AV ANDRA GRADEN VID RIKSVÄG 17! (New Close Encounter of the Second Kind at National Road 17!)

This article, based on a report from SDS Eslövsupplagan dated May 10, 1979, details a UFO sighting that occurred on April 19, 1979, near Eslöv, Sweden.

The Incident:

A witness reported seeing an unidentified flying object described as luminous white, approximately twenty meters long and five meters high. The object was observed at 8:45-9:00 PM near National Road 17, flying five meters above the ground in the eastern part of Eslöv. It reportedly flew towards Kastberga and was also seen from National Road 19 between Eslöv and Gårdstånga. Some branches on a large bush near the telephone wires were found to be completely bare, as if stripped by a recent event. No radioactivity was detected, nor were there any EM disturbances associated with the observation. The witness underwent a stability test which confirmed their reliability.

"Tefat" gav vittne brännskador ("Saucer" Gave Witness Burn Scars)

According to reports to Ufo Syd in Lund, the object gave the witness burn scars, including on the neck. The nearest witness was 75 meters from the object and sustained these burns. The object was observed by three witnesses.

FALLET I KORTHET (The Case in Brief)

At 8:30 PM on April 19, 20-year-old Håkan Brinck and a friend were driving from Lund to Eslöv. They observed a light in the sky, seemingly caused by 8-10 red, blinking lamps, near Grybyvägen. Initially thinking it was a military exercise, they followed the light as it moved rapidly towards the Berga area. Losing visual contact, they drove towards Kungshult along National Road 17. The object, described as egg-shaped, passed in front of their car about 5-6 meters above the road and then moved towards Kastberga. They parked, and Håkan Brinck exited the car. He spotted the object about a hundred meters away, hovering over a field. The object illuminated the ground with powerful spotlights and moved slowly back and forth in a searching pattern. It then descended towards the ground, 'screwed' itself under telephone lines, and disappeared northward. The entire event was silent and executed with perfect precision. Håkan was about 75 meters from the object, which emitted an intense light. Both witnesses were shocked, and Håkan suffered severe heat radiation burns on his face. They drove to Håkan's parents' home and contacted the police in Eslöv.

UTREDNINGEN (The Investigation)

At 9:00 PM, UFO-SYD's alarm center in Lund received a call from Eslöv police. Gert Andersson, Eslöv's section chief, visited the scene with Håkan Brinck. No anomalies were found in the dark. A daylight inspection revealed fragments of melted, charred metallic material and scorched plants where the object had been closest to the ground. On April 24, an extensive interview was conducted with Håkan Brinck at UFO-SYD's expedition in Lund. UFO-SYD personnel confirmed his facial burns. The driver of the car was also interviewed. Further interviews were conducted with relatives of both witnesses, and UFO-SYD field researchers visited the observation site multiple times for documentation. The charred fragments were sent to the Rapportcentralen for analysis, but no results were available at the time of writing.

SLUTORD (Concluding Remarks)

On July 18, UFO-SYD submitted a final report to the rapportcentralen classifying the event as a Close Encounter of the Second Kind (CE II). This is the second such encounter reported along National Road 17 in the Eslöv area within six months. A similar incident occurred in August 1978 when a 16-year-old girl reported a dark, disk-shaped object over a field. That witness was also shocked. Neither witness sustained lasting physical harm, apart from some fear of the dark.

BEVAKNING (Surveillance)

UFO-SYD has entered into an agreement to use the Romeleklint meeting facility until at least the end of August. This allows for observation nights to be held at Klinten. The organization proposes establishing a surveillance system with more frequent observation nights to increase the chances of witnessing phenomena. They suggest forming groups to take turns at Romeleklint according to a pre-arranged schedule and are seeking input from members on how to structure this schedule. Suggestions can be sent to UFO-SYD or communicated via phone.

EM-DETEKTORER (EM Detectors)

By Torsten Andersson

This article discusses the use of EM detectors in UFO research. The author suggests that these devices, which can detect electromagnetic disturbances, could be useful for identifying potential UFOs. However, he stresses the importance of analyzing the signals correctly, as many common sources of EM interference exist (e.g., mopeds, radar stations, transmitters, electric ovens). To get reliable readings, one should be at least two kilometers away from electrical apparatus and not be directly in the path of radar. The author recommends using a tape recorder to capture signals and a frequency analyzer to process them, ideally with a frequency range up to 1 MHz. He also suggests using a ferrite rod in the detector to improve its directional sensitivity, creating a direction-finding receiver with a frequency range from 1000 Hz to 0.5 MHz. Frequencies below 1000 Hz are considered less relevant for detecting unknown high-power electromagnetic fields. The author is developing a system for identifying and locating EM fields, essentially a UFO radar. He advises readers with EM detectors to place their sensors a few dozen meters above the ground and connect them to an oscilloscope or chart recorder. By observing and locating disturbances, one might correlate them with UFO sightings.

FLYGANDE TEFAT !! (Flying Saucers !!)

This section presents selected quotes from official US Air Force and ATIC statements between 1947 and 1952, a period of intense public interest in flying saucers, as compiled from Donald E. Keyhoe's book "Flygande tefat, observatörer från världsrymden" (Flying Saucers, Observers from Outer Space).

OFFICIELLE MEDDELANDEN ANGÅENDE FLYGANDE TEFAT (Official Statements Regarding Flying Saucers)

• 1947: An Air Force spokesman stated, "We have no experimental craft of this kind; we are completely mystified."
• April 27, 1949: An Air Force report noted, "The mere existence of a few hitherto unidentified flying objects necessitates constant vigilance on the part of investigation personnel and the general public."
• December 27, 1949: The Air Force officially stated, "Saucers are misinterpretations of various common phenomena, mild hysteria, meteorological phenomena, hallucinations, or jokes."
• December 30, 1949: A declassified secret investigation report suggested a connection between atomic bomb explosions, sightings of spaceships, and the time required for such ships to travel to and from their home bases, implying that extraterrestrial civilizations might be concerned about humanity's development of atomic bombs and rockets.
• November 1950: Colonel Harold E. Watson, Intelligence Chief in Dayton, stated in an interview with Bob Considine of International News Service, "Behind almost every report that is checked, one finds a disturbed person, a religious fanatic, a news hunter, or a malicious joker."
• June 24, 1952: An ATIC colonel, quoted in Look magazine, stated, "These reports come from sincere people: they are not crackpots. They have seen something, and we must find out what they have seen."

The article concludes by noting the confusion the American public must have felt regarding flying saucers.

FALLET LEVENAX (The Levenax Case)

This is the second part of a science fiction novella by Carl Henner, continuing from a previous issue.

The story continues with the narrator and his companions being held captive on an alien vessel. They are paralyzed and placed in a large, spherical room. One by one, they are taken away, and none return. The narrator describes the overwhelming fear and despair among the captives. He speculates that he was spared because he offered passive resistance, which delayed his demise by over two years, during which his personality was altered to align with his captors'. He describes a new world opening up to him, a civilization that has existed for millions of years and has stagnated. He believes the arrival of the "Cremo II" might have disrupted this ancient, unchanging culture. The narrator recounts his efforts to communicate with the Centaurians, but his explanations, even with the aid of Cremo II, were convoluted and illogical. Eventually, his captors lost patience, and he was taken to an execution device. However, at the moment of execution, he understood the apparatus's function and used this knowledge to save himself. He describes being disintegrated and reassembled on a space station near Earth. He awoke on Earth, having been taken care of by confused station personnel.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on UFO phenomena, including sightings, investigations, and potential contact scenarios. There is a strong emphasis on empirical evidence, witness reliability, and scientific investigation, as seen in the detailed reporting of the Eslöv incident and the discussion of EM detectors. The publication also serves as a platform for organizational news and member engagement, highlighting the activities and administrative structure of UFO-SYD. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry into the UFO phenomenon, acknowledging its complexities and potential implications for humanity, while also encouraging a proactive and prepared approach to understanding it. The inclusion of historical official statements and a science fiction novella suggests a broad interest in the topic, encompassing both factual reporting and speculative exploration.

Title: UFO-SYD Information
Issue: Nr 15
Date: July 14, 1979

This issue of UFO-SYD Information delves into various phenomena, with a significant focus on the impending and eventual crash of the Skylab space station. It also touches upon UFO sightings, the concept of biorythms, and the increasing problem of lightning disturbances.

Skylab Crashes!

The main cover story, "SKYLAB STÖRTAR!" (Skylab Crashes!), announces the imminent re-entry of the American space laboratory Skylab into Earth's atmosphere on Wednesday, July 11, at approximately 17:30 Swedish time. The article notes that while no human casualties were expected, some newspapers reported a man dying of a heart attack due to fear of Skylab's return. Most of the re-entry proceeded according to NASA's plans, with few areas needing evacuation. The magazine presents a collection of press clippings detailing the calculations, preparations, and the final descent of the space laboratory.

Skylab: A Symbol of Planning Failure?

An article highlights Skylab, once a symbol of humanity's potential to colonize space, now seen as a symbol of human inability to plan. Originally placed in a low orbit of about 320 kilometers, NASA had predicted Skylab would remain in orbit until 1983. However, unexpected solar activity increased atmospheric drag, causing Skylab to de-orbit much sooner. The article mentions that the primary mistake in planning was not accounting for solar spot activity.

Potential Catastrophe and Safety Measures

With Skylab's re-entry scheduled for around July 16, a potential catastrophe was feared, as some pieces weighed up to 500 kg. It was estimated that the largest fragments could create craters up to 1200 meters in diameter. NASA attempted to calm public fears by stating they would try to postpone Skylab's re-entry if it appeared to be heading towards populated areas. They also claimed the chance of anyone being harmed was only one in 150.

However, some congressmen, like Sam Greenlaw, believed the danger was greater than NASA experts claimed. Greenlaw advocated for a catastrophe plan that would involve urging residents in potential impact zones to seek shelter. NASA, on the other hand, argued that with a 75% chance of Skylab falling into the ocean, creating panic was unnecessary.

Skylab's Trajectory and Impact

Reports indicate Skylab was expected to crash around July 11-19, with July 15 being a likely date. Later calculations suggested the re-entry would occur between July 9 and 15, with July 12 being the most probable date. Skylab was in a nearly circular orbit, completing a revolution around Earth every 89.32 minutes.

On Wednesday, July 11, at 17:30 Swedish time, Skylab crashed into the Indian Ocean, about 1000 kilometers southwest of Perth, Australia. The station broke apart in the atmosphere, with most of its 77-ton mass burning up. Approximately 20-25 tons of debris, consisting of around 500 pieces, survived re-entry. The largest fragments were estimated to weigh over two tons and hit the surface at speeds of 480 km/h. While most debris fell into the ocean, some smaller pieces were sighted in Australia, near Kalgoorlie, Perth, Esperance, and Albany.

International Reactions and Precautions

Despite NASA's assurances, several governments took precautions. Belgium planned to activate 1250 sirens to provide a two-hour warning before the crash, and underground shelters were to be opened. Spain was monitoring Skylab's final journey, though significant debris impact was unlikely. Germany established an observation unit, but public awareness was low. Canada was taking the event lightly, while South Africa prepared ambulances and buses. The US embassy in Moscow informed the Soviet government to avoid misinterpreting the re-entry as an American military project.

Skylab Debris and Safety Warnings

In Western Australia, where much of the debris fell, authorities warned people seeking fragments about the dangers of explosive gas canisters and radioactive material. While NASA stated that only the luminous substance in the instrument panel and docking instruments were radioactive, and that these were only dangerous if ingested or inhaled, they advised washing hands after handling debris. The Australian police had already secured a cylinder from the space station. A group of American scientists was scheduled to visit Australia to investigate the debris and interview witnesses.

Skylab's Legacy and Future Space Debris

Skylab, launched on May 14, 1973, and visited by three American expeditions, was intended to orbit until 1983. However, increased solar activity led to greater atmospheric resistance, slowing Skylab and causing its orbit to decay. The magazine notes that the Soviet Salyut 6 is now the only space station in orbit. The issue concludes by stating that the public will have to get used to falling satellites, with the Russian Salyut 6 expected to re-enter the atmosphere soon.

Skylab Coins and Humanitarian Efforts

An article from Hong Kong mentions a company offering to exchange Skylab debris for pure gold as part of a fundraising effort for Vietnamese boat refugees. The company planned to mint 22-karat gold coins, each containing a small piece of Skylab debris, half an ounce of gold, and copper.

Historical UFO Sightings

Columbus and the Bermuda Triangle: The magazine recounts an event during Christopher Columbus's first voyage in 1477. Shortly before reaching land, his crew witnessed luminous water near the Bahamas and a fiery ball that circled his flagship before plunging into the sea. This event coincided with the ship's compasses behaving erratically, causing unease among the crew.

Extraterrestrial Contact and Civilization: An excerpt from Robert K G Temple's book "The Sirius Mystery" (1977) discusses the potential implications of receiving a signal from an extraterrestrial civilization. Temple suggests that such an event would bring about significant changes, forcing humanity to confront its place in the universe. He poses the question of whether humanity will react with fear and insecurity or with courage and pride, emphasizing that once such a signal is received, there is no turning back from the realization of our cosmic context.

Biorythms: Understanding Personal Cycles

This section explores the theory of biorythms, which posits that individuals are influenced by three main cycles: physical (23 days), emotional (28 days), and intellectual (33 days). The theory suggests that these cycles fluctuate between positive and negative phases, affecting daily performance and well-being. The article highlights that some companies, particularly in Japan and the USA, take biorythms seriously, using them to reduce accident rates by assigning employees to less risky tasks during their negative phases. Doctors are also mentioned as sometimes considering biorythms before treating patients.

The article provides a method for calculating one's personal biorythms using a formula based on age, days since birth, and leap years. It explains how to plot these cycles on a diagram to identify peak days (when all three cycles are high) and critical days (when cycles cross the midline).

Lightning Disturbances and Technological Impact

Increased Lightning Activity in Skåne: Professor Stig Lundquist, a lightning research expert, reports that Skåne, Sweden, has experienced an above-average frequency of lightning and thunder in July 1979. The region has registered an average of five lightning disturbances per hour. This is a growing concern, especially in an increasingly computerized society where such disturbances can cause errors in digital systems.

Technological Vulnerability: The article explains that computers are vulnerable to electrical interference caused by lightning. A power drop due to a disturbance can lead to a false signal, potentially changing a '0' to a '1' or vice versa. The widespread use of computers means these disturbances can have significant consequences.

Nordic Cooperation Project: To address the issue of lightning disturbances, a Nordic cooperation project is being initiated to better track and understand these phenomena using computers.

Safety Advice: General safety advice is provided, including avoiding standing under isolated trees, grounding TV antennas, and seeking shelter in a car if the time between lightning and thunder is ten seconds or less.

Other Phenomena

Unusual Sea Level Changes at Kuggören: An article describes a peculiar event on May 21 near the island of Kuggören, Sweden, where the sea level rose and fell every twelve minutes, with maximum differences of over 120 centimeters. Hydrologists at SMHI are investigating possible causes, including weather fronts, though the localized nature of the event makes this explanation uncertain. The phenomenon is considered a potential hazard to shipping.

Ancient Organic Life: A report from Copenhagen mentions Danish geologist Dr. Peter Kappel joining American researchers to find evidence of organic life on Earth 3.8 billion years ago, 500 million years earlier than previously believed. This is based on the discovery of two specific hydrocarbons in ancient stones collected from Greenland in 1976, which suggest the presence of organic life only 700 million years after Earth's formation.

Asteroid with a Moon: Astronomers in Atlanta, Georgia, observed the asteroid Melpomene passing by a star. However, subsequent analysis revealed that the observed object was not the asteroid itself but a moon accompanying it. This marks the first confirmed discovery of an asteroid with a moon.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of UFO-SYD Information maintains its focus on unexplained phenomena, space exploration, and scientific curiosities. The editorial stance appears to be one of informing the public about these events, presenting various perspectives, and encouraging critical thinking. The magazine covers both contemporary events like the Skylab crash and historical accounts, alongside theoretical concepts like biorythms and the potential for extraterrestrial contact. The inclusion of lightning disturbances highlights the intersection of natural phenomena and modern technology, suggesting a broad interest in how the unexplained impacts our lives. The magazine concludes its coverage of Skylab, indicating a shift in focus to future events like the Salyut 6 re-entry, but with a note that extensive coverage may not be provided.