Ufology News - No 30 - September December 2016

Magazine Overview

This issue of "НОВОСТИ УФОЛОГИИ" (UFOlogy News), dated September-December 2016, features an in-depth interview with Victor Gaiduchik, a historian and activist from Brest, Belarus, associated with the 'Ufocom' project. The magazine also includes updates on UFO identification archives, reports on specific cases, and information about ongoing research initiatives.

Interview with Victor Gaiduchik

The interview, conducted by Igor Chvartkovsky and Andrey Chvartkovsky, delves into Victor Gaiduchik's personal journey into ufology. He explains that his interest began in his teenage years during the late 1980s, a period of intense public fascination with UFOs. Initially, he collected newspaper clippings, inspired by a friend who attended a ufology school. However, during his university studies, he realized the importance of applying a scientific methodology to the study of anomalous phenomena (AP).

Gaiduchik recounts personal sightings of strange objects in the sky, including one in 1991 or 1992, which he later identified as a plane's fuselage reflecting sunlight. He emphasizes that the primary role of ufologists should be the identification and theoretical grounding of phenomena, rather than simply collecting unexplained cases. He criticizes the approach of accumulating vast archives without rigorous identification criteria, stating that such methods lead to speculation and are best left to tabloids.

He believes that serious researchers should approach the subject with rigor, avoiding accusations of conspiracies and disinformation. Gaiduchik's continued interest in ufology stems from the opportunity to learn new things and solve complex logical problems. He highlights that studying UFOs and AP requires drawing knowledge from diverse fields, including astronomy, optics, physics, psychology, geology, geophysics, and statistics, which he views as a form of self-education driven by practical problem-solving.

The 'Ufocom' Project

Gaiduchik describes 'Ufocom' as a research platform based on the internet resource ufo-com.net. It aims to provide a space for Belarusian researchers of anomalous phenomena who adhere to scientific principles. Their motto is: "There are no unscientific topics, only unscientific approaches." 'Ufocom' is not a formal organization but has represented the international 'Cosmopoisk' movement in Belarus since 2005. They organize an annual open field meeting called 'Belarus-Cosmopoisk'. Their network extends beyond Belarus to post-Soviet countries and some Western European nations.

Regarding results, Gaiduchik acknowledges that significant breakthroughs are typically the domain of scientific institutions. However, 'Ufocom' has achieved success in addressing specific issues. Firstly, they help people identify observed objects or phenomena and artifacts in photos and videos, often providing answers to inquiries. Secondly, they are compiling generalizations on various topics. In collaboration with 'Cosmopoisk', they published a collection titled "Modern Research of the Poltergeist Environment." Gaiduchik also mentions upcoming publications: a book by his colleague Ilya Butov on cult stones and archaeoastronomical sites in Belarus, and his own ongoing research into folk beliefs about "walking dead," which intersects with ethnography, folklore, history, and archaeology, and may relate to phenomena like poltergeists and apparitions.

Thirdly, 'Ufocom' has fostered collaboration with specialists and members of the Belarusian scientific community, some of whom actively participate or offer consultation. An example cited is the laboratory investigation of a substance (allegedly 'myrrh') found on stickers used for blessing apartments, which was given a rational explanation.

UFO Cases in Belarus

When asked about interesting UFO cases in Belarus, Gaiduchik emphasizes cases that offer material evidence for research, particularly those involving close encounters of the second kind (CE-II) where physical effects on the environment and witnesses are noted. He recounts an investigation into a case involving military personnel during the "Shield of the Fatherland 2004" exercises. Witnesses reported a low-flying, disc-shaped object that caused an ozone smell, static electricity, heated water in metal flasks, and impaired reactions and eye irritation in the observers. While this case was unique, direct confirmation from the witnesses was not possible. The team visited the site and found the account consistent with the reality of the location.

He also touches upon the phenomenon of "crop circles," which are sometimes linked to UFOs. In Belarus, only two pictograms have been officially documented: one near Rossony in the Vitebsk region in 2000, and another on the outskirts of Borisov in the Minsk region in 2009. Gaiduchik notes that in both cases, individuals claimed authorship, and there is no basis to attribute them to anomalous origins.

However, he mentions older cases from the mid-1960s in Struga village (Malorita district) and 1992 near Ivacevichi, where witnesses claimed UFO landings left circles of flattened grass. He considers these cases too old to investigate meaningfully now.

He discusses locations with a statistically higher density of UFO sightings, sometimes referred to as "UFO flaps." The "Vileyka Triangle," active from 1989-1991, is cited as an example. Another area in the Brest region was identified as a zone with a statistically significant number of sightings over several decades. Despite this, he refrains from labeling it an "anomalous zone" in the style of Tarkovsky's film "Stalker."

Truly interesting cases requiring immediate on-site investigation are rare in Belarus, occurring perhaps once a year. He recalls observing a bright red ball in the Pinsk district in March 2016 that illuminated a large area. Subsequent investigations in the same locality revealed numerous witnesses who indicated that sightings of such glowing spheres are not uncommon.

State-Level Research in Belarus

Gaiduchik states that he is unaware of any state-level UFO or AP research in Belarus. During the Soviet era, materials from such programs were sent to Moscow, and it is unlikely that independent national programs existed.

Common Mistakes by New Researchers

Gaiduchik identifies several common mistakes made by newcomers to UFO research. Firstly, they need to clarify concepts. The public often associates UFOs exclusively with aliens. While the alien hypothesis was foundational to ufology, Gaiduchik stresses that UFO simply means an "unidentified flying object" that requires identification. He argues that before discussing aliens, a UFO must be definitively identified as an extraterrestrial craft, a feat he believes has not been reliably achieved. He posits that the issue lies in human perception, limited knowledge, and inadequate identification criteria. He advises against expecting romantic encounters and suggests that the reality is often more complex and mundane.

Updates and Archives

GEIPAN Documentation

The magazine announces the release of a new package of documents from GEIPAN, the French space agency's investigation group, for November 2016. These documents pertain to unidentified flying objects and include cases categorized as D, D1, and D2, which were difficult to identify based on available data. Links to PDF reports containing scans, drawings, and diagrams are provided.

Spanish Ministry of Defense Archives

Spain's Ministry of Defense has published 1,953 pages related to UFOs, comprising documents collected between 1992 and 1999 from Spanish Air Force intelligence operations. The archive contains 122 cases from 1962 to 1995, organized into 84 dossiers. These files are accessible online through the Ministry's virtual library by searching for "OVNI."

Video Investigation: Aquadilla Airport

A report details an investigation into an object recorded on video at Aquadilla Airport on April 25, 2013. The object, described as wingless, flew at low altitude near the runway, causing delays to commercial flights. It was captured by a US Customs and Border Protection thermal imaging camera and detected by the US Air Force's 84th RADES radar. Its speed was estimated between 40 and 120 mph, with a reported speed of 82.8 mph when it submerged into the water. The video and radar data were later subjected to an expert analysis.

Collective Identification: 'Mikirov's False Saucer'

An incident from September 19, 2016, involved a photograph submitted for identification, which was classified as a classic lens flare, or 'Mikirov's false saucer.' The photographer, Yulia G., took the picture to test her camera's night-shooting capabilities and later noticed unexplained objects in the sky. Administrator Andrey Chvartkovsky forwarded the materials for expert analysis, and expert Mikhail Gerstein identified the phenomenon as a lens flare.

Archival Projects

Global UFO Identification and AP Research Archive

The magazine provides updates on its global archive of UFO identification and AP research. Supplement No. 10, released in 2016, adds 15.1 GB of data from 29 countries. Supplement No. 11 adds another 10.1 GB from 27 countries. The archive, developed by I.M. Kalytyuk and M.B. Gershtein, is accessible via a feedback form for exchange proposals. The magazine also offers a subscription to updates.

The archive is categorized by region and country, with significant data from the UK (298 entries), France (130), USA (485), and Australia (120). Smaller contributions are noted from various European, Asian, African, and South American countries. The archive also lists previous supplements, detailing the cumulative data size.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the emphasis on a scientific and rigorous approach to ufology and the study of anomalous phenomena. The editorial stance clearly favors identification and evidence-based research over speculation and the mere collection of anecdotal accounts. The magazine actively promotes the idea that ufology, like any scientific discipline, requires critical thinking, interdisciplinary knowledge, and a commitment to verifiable data. The publication also serves as a platform for sharing research findings, archival updates, and collaborative efforts within the ufology community, particularly in Belarus and surrounding regions.

This issue of "Special Investigations" (Специальные расследования), identified as Case No. 3.3 and Volume 70, published in 1985, focuses on the critical state of ufology and the significant problem of lost archives and fragmented research.

The Problem of Ufology's Stagnation

The article begins by lamenting that ufology, as a field, remains stagnant, repeating old errors and failing to convince skeptics or the scientific community of the existence of UFOs. This stagnation is attributed to a lack of continuity and a general fragmentation among researchers. Individuals interested in studying UFOs are often forced to start from scratch, spending valuable time and resources on literature review and historical research that has likely already been done.

Unlike established sciences where knowledge is accumulated, systematized, and made accessible to future generations through standardized classification, terminology, and peer-reviewed journals, ufology lacks such infrastructure. The authors note the absence of a unified system for classification, terminology, and a reliable method for storing and disseminating research findings. This environment allows anyone to claim expertise in ufology, publish unsubstantiated claims, and invent their own terminology without accountability.

Financial Motivations and the Loss of Archives

The article criticizes the financial motivations that drive many ufologists, suggesting that they often view collected materials as potential income sources rather than scientifically valuable data. This leads to a reluctance to share findings with colleagues and a tendency to hide or monetize information, sometimes even at the cost of their reputation. A particularly concerning consequence is that aging ufologists may destroy their archives to prevent competitors from accessing them. In some cases, ufologists may destroy their materials due to religious beliefs, as exemplified by the destruction of archives related to UFO propulsion systems.

The death of a ufologist often leads to a scramble for their materials by self-proclaimed "colleagues" primarily interested in their monetary value. Without a will, these valuable archives can disappear. The article cites the case of APRO, once a large ufological organization in the US, whose extensive archive of 15,000 UFO sighting reports was lost after the deaths of its founders, Jim and Coral Lorenzen. The archive was reportedly handed over to "ufologists" Brian Myers and Tina Choate, who allegedly stored it in a damp garage, and its current whereabouts are unknown.

Historical Examples of Archive Loss

Several historical examples illustrate the devastating loss of ufological data:

• Moscow Archive: An archive of the Commission on Anomalous Aerial Phenomena (AAN) under the USSR Academy of Sciences of the National Economy (ВСНТО) was initially stored in a basement and later destroyed by a burst pipe, turning the documents into pulp. Only materials kept at the homes of A. Petukhov and T. Faminskaya survived.
• IZMIRAN Archive: Yu. Platon, after the disbandment of an IZMIRAN group in 1996, stored most of his UFO documents in his garage, later selling the garage without ensuring the contents were preserved. The new owners reportedly discarded everything deemed "unnecessary."
• Pushkino Group Archive: An active ufological group in Pushkino, near Moscow, split in the 1990s, and its archive was destroyed to prevent it from falling into the hands of the majority.
• Kropotkinsky Incident (November 17, 1987): The most significant loss mentioned is that of artifacts and documentation related to the Kropotkinsky incident. This included metal that reportedly caused equipment malfunctions at the Institute of Nuclear Research of the Ukrainian SSR Academy of Sciences. Fragments of an alleged flying apparatus, handed over to I. Kuznetsova for the "Zond" Scientific Research Center, were temporarily stored at the Biophysics Institute of Taras Shevchenko National University. Despite assurances of archive integrity, the materials were reportedly treated as scrap paper, and numerous documents, boxes of film, and other items disappeared, with the artifact itself being stolen.
• Television Interference: The article notes that television crews have frequently been involved in the loss of materials. For instance, the expertise on a series of UFO photos taken by A. Korchagin in St. Petersburg in 1992 was lost when Ren-TV representatives took documents from M. Gerstein's home for a program and did not return all of them.
• Nuclear Bomber Case (May 16, 1970): A similar incident involved the loss of materials related to a nuclear bomber case. Kyiv ufologists entrusted archive materials from Kharkiv to a director from the TV channel "Inter" in exchange for filming part of the material for the program "Hunting for UFOs."

The Need for Openness and Digitization

The authors contrast the secrecy often attributed to military and intelligence agencies with the relative openness of Western military documents concerning UFOs, which are often available with minimal censorship. They argue that ufology must change its approach to overcome its current impasse. The primary steps involve making existing UFO materials more accessible and ensuring their preservation.

Digitization is presented as the most straightforward solution, allowing for easy copying and sharing of materials with colleagues or uploading them to the internet. The latter requires some censorship, as many witnesses may not want their names, surnames, or addresses publicly disclosed. Digitized materials should be stored in at least two separate locations to prevent loss from hard drive failure. An ideal scenario involves keeping one copy on an external drive at a different location to safeguard against disasters like fires.

For non-unique materials like newspaper clippings, books, or thematic journals, coordination with colleagues is essential to avoid duplication. The ideal would be a unified website where researchers can check for the availability of digitized materials and obtain them.

Digital Data Loss and Archival Responsibility

The article also highlights the risks associated with digital data loss, citing examples where electronic data was lost due to the absence of backups. M. Gerstein lost a video recording of a phenomenon over Barnaul due to a hard drive failure, and A. Bilyk lost a UFO video recording from Sevastopol. I. Kalytuk also experienced a temporary loss of archives when a hard drive fell from his hands, leading to delays in publications and his resignation from the leadership of the EIVC Center.

Kalytuk learned a valuable lesson: to store backup copies of archives with at least several trusted individuals in different countries. For large paper collections, it is crucial to plan for their future in a will, specifying who should inherit the archive and under what conditions. The ideal inheritor would be an independent organization capable of ensuring quality storage and open access for interested ufologists. The article points to the Archive for the Unexplained (AFU) in Norrköping, Sweden, as an example of such a well-equipped facility, holding over two kilometers of shelves and more than 20,000 books.

Conclusion: Embrace Openness

The authors conclude by stating that the era of hoarding knowledge is over. Ufologists who are serious about understanding UFO mysteries and advancing humanity's exploration of the universe must embrace maximum openness, cooperation, and collaboration before it is too late.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the critical state of ufology, the severe problem of lost and inaccessible archives, the impact of financial motivations on research integrity, and the urgent need for systemic change. The editorial stance is strongly in favor of scientific rigor, transparency, collaboration, and the adoption of modern data management practices, particularly digitization, to salvage and advance the field of ufology.

Key Persons Mentioned

• A. Petukhov
• T. Faminskaya
• Yu. Platon
• I. Kuznetsova
• A. Perekhod
• M. Gerstein
• Albert Veinik
• Ram Varlamov (Matvey)
• Jim Lorenzen
• Coral Lorenzen
• Brian Myers
• Tina Choate
• Larry Lorenzen
• Mark Rodehaver
• Thomas Birch
• Igor Kalytuk

Organizations Mentioned

• VSNTO
• IZMIRAN
• Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR
• UNITS "Zond"
• APRO
• EIVC Center
• AFU (Archive for the Unexplained)

Locations Mentioned

• Kropotkinsky, Russia
• St. Petersburg, Russia
• Kyiv, Ukraine
• Kharkiv, Ukraine
• Barnaul, Russia
• Sevastopol, Ukraine
• Norrköping, Sweden
• Pushkino, Russia

Themes

• Ufology
• Archives
• Information Loss
• Openness

Tags

UFO, UAP, ufology, archives, information management, data loss, research, skepticism, scientific standards, collaboration, digitization, historical documents, Kropotkinsky incident, APRO, AFU