Ufologen - No 10 - 1973

Magazine Overview

This issue of UFOLOGEN, number 10 from May 1973, is published by Arbetsgruppen för ufologi and focuses on various aspects of unexplained phenomena and UFO research. The editorial team includes Anders Liljegren (editor and publisher), Håkan Blomqvist, Jorma Heinonen, and Bengt O Wettergren. The magazine is published monthly.

Editorial Section

The editorial announces a three-month summer break, with the next issue (number 11) planned for October. The editor, Anders Liljegren, is moving to a new address in Norrköping. The editorial reflects on the magazine's first year, noting positive feedback and the challenge of balancing production with personal time. Subscription fees for the second half of the year are not yet fixed and will be adjusted based on the financial outcome of the previous issues. The editorial wishes readers a sunny summer.

Article: Charles Fort - Prophet of the Unexplained

This section reviews Damon Knight's biography of Charles Fort, 'Prophet of the Unexplained'. Charles Fort (1874-1932) was an American researcher who meticulously collected data on anomalous events, often dismissed by mainstream science. The article details Fort's difficult childhood, his early career in journalism, and his extensive research, which involved compiling over 40,000 notes. His major works include 'The Book of the Damned' (1919), 'New Lands' (1923), and 'Lo!' (1931). Fort was known for his critical stance, famously stating, 'I myself do not believe in anything I have written.' The article also touches upon the 'Fortean Society' founded by Tiffanny Thayer to promote Fort's work, and the current efforts by INFO (International Fortean Organization) led by Paul Willis to continue this interest.

Damon Knight's analysis of Fort's data is highlighted, including the creation of an 'activity curve' based on 1,200 reports. Knight also compared these curves with phenomena like storms, things seen in space, and 'falls from the sky', finding significant correlations, particularly between 1877 and 1892. Furthermore, Knight's comparison of Fort's data with Mars' and Venus' cycles revealed a statistically significant positive correlation, suggesting a possible extraterrestrial influence.

Article: Mysterious 'Lumps' Scare Texas Residents

This report details several incidents in Texas involving strange, pulsating substances. Fru Marie Harris in Dallas discovered a white, foamy substance in her garden that grew significantly, becoming orange and bleeding red/purple liquids when treated. Similar pulsating, red substances were reported in Garland, Texas, and a woman in Dallas found a similar substance on her garden hedge. Scientists from Growth International are analyzing the substance, with Arnold Dittman suggesting it might be a new mutation of bacteria. The origin and nature of these substances remain unknown.

Another report mentions metallic fragments found near a crashed flying object in Aurora, USA, where a pilot's alleged burial site is guarded. The article also notes that experts from the International UFO Bureau investigated a site in Piedmont, Missouri, where residents reported seeing yellow-orange balls of light, possibly extraterrestrial craft.

Article: Norwegian Opinions on 'New Year's Lights'

This section discusses a debate at a UFO conference in Trondheim regarding the 'New Year's Lights' observed around New Year's Eve 1971-72. An analysis of 26 reports by the UFO center in Bergen concluded that eight reports clearly pointed to the Cosmos 453 rocket stages burning up, while ten were uncertain. However, eight reports were deemed to be of actual UFOs, indicating intelligent control, with observations varying in time and location across Norway. The analysis suggests an intensive surveillance of UFOs over Norway during that period.

Kolbjørn Stenødegård of the Norsk UFO-Center criticizes an article in 'Astronomisk Tidskrift' for allegedly ridiculing witnesses like Gottfred Tande-Petersen, suggesting that the magazine uses techniques similar to the Blue Book and CIA to discredit UFO observations. Stenødegård asserts that while the Russian rocket stages explain some of the lights, real UFOs were also involved, citing observations of 'enormous airships' by credible individuals.

Article: Rolling Wheels Seen in Jörn

This is an investigation report by Alf Göran Lindberg about an observation made by Fru Sigrid Johansson in Granbergsträsk, Västerbotten, Sweden, in late March 1967. She described seeing a large, red, glowing, wheel-shaped object moving slowly and rolling just above the southern horizon. The object appeared larger than the full moon and seemed to roll towards the horizon before disappearing behind a mountain. Fru Johansson recalled the object's edges being darker than its center and suggested it was oval-shaped. She noted its speed was slower than an airplane's, more like a helicopter's. Despite the passage of time, she remembered the details vividly, attributing her initial surprise to the unusual nature of the sighting. No other family members witnessed the object, though their dog showed no fear.

Article: Female Medium Announces: Space Visitors to Sundsvall

This report details a message received by medium Grete Ahlberg from an extraterrestrial named 'Akatu' from the 'Asthar Command'. The message, conveyed to residents of Sundsvall, Sweden, promises concrete evidence of alien existence in the near future, urging people to be prepared to receive this 'gift' without fear. Anthony Brooke, who travels with Ahlberg, promotes the belief in space visitors and their continued presence on Earth. The article notes that while UFO groups worldwide study signs of alleged alien visitation, there is no doubt among 'UFO-ists' about the existence of extraterrestrial life.

Editorial Comment on Medium Reports

The editor expresses skepticism towards publicity generated by mediums, warning that it could misrepresent the UFO movement as a religious or spiritualist phenomenon. While acknowledging claims of contact with 'space intelligences' from various mediums, the editor notes that such predictions are often vague or inaccurate, citing a failed prediction of increased UFO activity in Finland.

Article: Norwegian Opinions on 'New Year's Lights' (Continued)

This section continues the discussion on the 'New Year's Lights' from Norway. The Norsk UFO-Center firmly believes that UFOs were involved in the events, not just the rocket stages. They cite the Tande-Petersen observation and reports of 'enormous airships' seen by individuals in Bergen. The report concludes that the Norsk UFO-Center has definitively established that UFOs were involved in the surveillance wave on the night of New Year's 1972.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include detailed investigations into specific UFO sightings and phenomena, such as the mysterious substance in Texas and the 'New Year's Lights'. The magazine also dedicates significant space to the historical work of Charles Fort, highlighting his meticulous research into anomalous events and his critical approach. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFO phenomena, while maintaining a degree of skepticism towards sensationalism, particularly from mediums. The magazine aims to present documented reports and analyses, encouraging critical thinking among its readers.

Title: Ufologen
Issue Date: June 1973
Publisher: Ufologen
Country of Publication: Sweden
Original Language: Swedish

This issue of Ufologen, a Swedish magazine focused on UFO phenomena, presents a collection of recent sightings, investigative reports, and organizational news within the ufology community.

New Collaboration: Arbetsgruppen för UFO-Identifiering

The magazine announces the formation of a new collaborative group called "Arbetsgruppen för UFO-Identifiering" (Working Group for UFO Identification). This independent organization is a joint effort by members of IGF (Intergalactic Federation), UFO-Jakobsberg, and Stockholm UFO-Center. Their primary goals are to produce a short film about UFOs and to develop a data processing system for UFO reports. The group intends to act as a "service organ" for other UFO organizations, aiming to present a unified front to the media under the common question: "Is there anything there?"

UFO Documentary Film Project

As part of their initiative, the group is working on a UFO documentary film based on reliable data about UFO phenomena. The film, intended for 16mm distribution and approximately 20 minutes long, aims to provide general information about UFOs and spark interest, particularly among young people. The planned structure includes sections on introduction, historical cases (mentioning K. Arnold), technical UFO information, statistics, visual material, international films (including one from Australia), Scandinavian case studies, reporting guidelines, and the objectives of UFO organizations. The film will be produced without lip-sync, allowing for easy dubbing into different languages. Collaboration is sought with Norwegian, Finnish, and Danish UFO associations.

UFO Data System

Simultaneously, specialists connected to Stockholm groups have developed a data system for UFO reports. This system is designed to handle extensive input data, requiring trained "field reporters." The system is complex, involving detailed codification of phenomena's appearance and behavior, necessitating a short course for those involved. The ultimate hope is to generate statistical data on UFO phenomena and study their movement patterns. A detailed description of the data system will be distributed to UFO groups for feedback before its finalization. Initially planned under UFO-Sverige, the "Arbetsgruppen för UFO-Identifiering" has decided to broaden the base to include non-UFO-Sverige groups.

Commentary on the Projects

An editorial comment expresses principled support for the proposed projects, noting that the new direction, focused on the question "Is there anything there?", is considered a "significant change of course" by Sten Lindgren. However, the comment emphasizes the need for nearly 100% participation for the projects to be meaningful. It highlights practical challenges, such as the limited number of cases currently investigated thoroughly enough for the detailed data system (estimated at 10-20-30-40-50 per year). Furthermore, it points out the difficulty in building a robust data system if existing organizations cannot cooperate on fundamental issues, citing UFO-Sverige's "uncompromising attitude." The need for large amounts of data for meaningful computer analysis is stressed, noting that while 150-250 cases are reported annually in Sweden, achieving a 100% "investigation rate" is unlikely. It suggests that even with current resources, it would take a long time to develop the system, and international (especially Nordic) interest could be incorporated, provided they also participate in the system's development. The commentary concludes with a hopeful note for the positive development of ufology, breaking down prejudices and creating space for practical, reality-based research and information.

Reported Sightings and Incidents

Göksjön, Burträsk (1967)

A comment references a newspaper notice from Västerbottens Folkblad on March 28, 1967, mentioning that four people in Göksjön had seen a similar phenomenon 20 minutes earlier on the same day. Burträsk is located about 70 km south of Jörn.

Backe, Ångermanland (1973)

This section details an investigation into photographs taken by photographer Bjärne Engholm in Backe. The Göteborgs Informationscenter för oidentifierade flygande föremål (GICOFF) conducted an 11-page investigation. The analysis of the images, including significant enlargements, confirmed the authenticity of the photographs. The object's shape was described as having a slightly curved underside and a prominent "dome" on top, with shadows suggesting illumination from the left. The estimated diameter of the object was around 96 meters, though a more conservative estimate of 10 meters was suggested as more probable. Despite further investigations involving professors in Lund and Uppsala, no natural explanation has been found, and the phenomenon remains unexplained.

Södertälje (March 8, 1973)

Greta Larsson reported observing a phenomenon from her living room in Södertälje. She described it not as an object, but as a broad, fast-moving strip of light with a constant width that quickly faded. Five seconds later, her balcony was illuminated by a very strong light, but no further strip or phenomenon was visible.

Skytts Vemmerlöv, Trelleborg (May 1973)

Fourteen-year-old Joakim Persson reported seeing and photographing a silver-shining, disk-shaped object flying at an altitude of approximately 50 meters and a diameter of about 20 meters. He described it as compact and not a cloud. The object disappeared in a northwest direction. The magazine notes that attempts to contact Joakim Persson for an interview and a copy of the photo were unsuccessful, and the reproduction in the newspaper was too poor to be included. A drawing of the object's main features is provided, noting its similarity to some of Paul Villa's photographs.

Eastern Iceland (May 24, 1973)

Three aircraft, including a SAS flight from New York to Bergen, observed a mysterious flying object at an altitude of 40,000 feet over eastern Iceland. Pilots reported that their radar screens did not detect the object, and they ruled out it being a balloon or weather probe. The incident caused a significant number of calls to air traffic control, police, and the Icelandic radio.

Sorsele, Lappland (May 25-26, 1973)

Several residents of Sorsele observed a balloon-like object flying slowly at high altitude on Friday and Saturday. The object reportedly traveled west on Friday evening and returned the following morning. It was described as a large plastic bag and was linked to a similar object seen over Mo i Rana, Norway, which was reported to be flying at 3,000 meters with a diameter of approximately 50 meters. Some observers with powerful binoculars claimed to see small antennas protruding from the lower end of the object, while the upper part appeared transparent.

News and Updates

Book Releases

Two books are mentioned: "Tefatsfolket ser oss!" (The Saucer People See Us!) by Staffan Stigsjöö, focusing on Scandinavian UFO reports, and "UFO-Gåtan" (The UFO Riddle) by Bjarne Håkansson, which includes Swedish interview material and information about the data system being developed by "Arbetsgruppen för UFO-Identifiering."

Organizational Changes

Södertälje UFO-Center has been dissolved and split into two groups. Göran Ebbesson has left his role as UFO-Sverige's PR manager to form a study group focused on parapsychology and philosophy. Håkan Blomqvist, Leif Norbergh, and Kjell Jonsson have formed an A.F.U. group to conduct investigations in Södermanland.

Stockholms UFO-Center has also divided into two groups: one focused on philosophy and a UFO-oriented research group of four people led by Lennart Johansson. This research group is developing TT material on the 1946 "ghost bombs" and experimenting with magnetic detectors.

Norwegian Cooperation

A UFO conference was held in Trondheim on May 12-13, discussing research activities in Norway. A nationwide cooperative organization was established to collect and process data related to UFO activity, aiming to provide acceptable and clear answers to the UFO problem. A planned search operation in Djupsjøen, Røros, to investigate a reported UFO crash in the 1940s, has been postponed due to financial reasons.

Finnish UFO Conference

Finland is hosting its national UFO conference in Turku from July 13-15. The organizer, Turun UFO, is also publishing a new Finnish UFO magazine titled "Humanoidien Maailma" (The World of Humanoids).

English Invention: Photic Driver

Allen International in London is developing an invention called the "Photic Driver." This device uses pulsed light and sound waves to deter crowds. It is designed to cause disorientation and panic without the affected individuals realizing what is happening. The invention is described as a non-violent weapon with less harmful effects than riot gas or batons. However, medical experts express concerns about the potential for epileptic seizures among those exposed to the flashing lights.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of Ufologen demonstrates a strong emphasis on collaborative efforts within the ufology community, as exemplified by the formation of "Arbetsgruppen för UFO-Identifiering." There is a clear drive towards more systematic research, data collection, and dissemination of information, including the development of a data system and the production of a documentary film. The magazine also highlights the importance of photographic evidence and its rigorous analysis, as seen in the Backe case. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded investigation, seeking factual explanations while acknowledging the unexplained nature of many reported phenomena. The inclusion of international reports and collaborations suggests a broader perspective on the UFO issue. The magazine also touches upon technological advancements, both in UFO research (data systems) and in other fields (crowd control technology), reflecting a general interest in science and innovation.