1953 CIA Intel Sweden UFO Sightings Disc Shaped

» CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION FROM
FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS

COUNTRY Sweden) DATE OF

INFORMATION 1953
SUBJECT Military - Unconventional sircraft
HOW DATE DIST. APR 195%

PUBLISHEO Daily newspaper ~ ee

WHERE | ;
PUBLISHED Stockholm NO, OF PAGES 4

DATE

PUBLISHED 18-20 Dec 1953.”
SUPPLEMENT TO

LANGUAGE - Swedish Me REPORT NO.

THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION -

id

SOURCE Dagens Ryheter 2

DESCRIBE DISK-SHAPED ATRCRART OVER SKAANE

[the Snformation in this report was taken from three articles
which appeared-in the liberal Stockholm daily, Dagens Nyheter on
18, 19, and_20 December 1953. In the rendition of the first two- - . |
articles (18 and 19 December), repetitious elements have been
omitted. The third article is given in full. .

*Numbers-in-parentbeses refer to appended “sources ./

The chief pilot for Transair Airlines, Flight Captain Ulf Christiernsson,--- -
and his flight mechanic, Olle Johansson, reported that on the afternoon of oe
17 December 1953, while flying in a DC-3 over Skaane, they sighted a myste- - — ey
rious circular metal object flying in an opposite direction of them at a speed :
estimated at about the speed of sound. The sirmen estimated that the object .----
was about 10 meters in diameter. ° oo

_ Captain Christiernsson, at present emplo) yed by Transair in flying the
morning [Stockholm] papers to southern Sweden, bas very extensive air ex--
perience, having served as a volunteer with the RAP from 1942-1946, finishing ~-—- >
his service with the rank of captain. He flew 30 missions against enemy terri-

tory from North Africe and Italy. 3

,

Captain Christiernsson made the following statement to Dagens Nybeter: ©
"YZ do not doubt for an instant that it vas not a jet plane. What I 68W was &_
completely wnorthodox, metallic, symmetric, round object which-was unlike any-
thing I have seen before. The mysterious object appeared suddenly on the air og
route traveled by all controlled air traffic between Bulitofta and Bromma aire... __ -..
fields (at Malm and Stockholm respectively]. I myself was en route to Bromma...

vacances earn MRT CON GAIN a

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WHERE

PUBLISHED Stockholm . ' NO. OF PAGES 4
DATE
PUBLISHED 18-20 Dec 1953

-~ SUPPLEMENT TO
LANGUAGE - Swedish . REPORT NO. °

THIS 1$ UNEVALUATED INFORMATION -

SOURCE Dagens Ryheter

DESCRIBE DISK-SHAPED ALRCRANT OVER SKAANE

The information in this report was taken from three articles . Bo
‘which appeared in the liberal Stockholm daily, Degeos Nyheter oo a

18, 19, and 20 December 1953. In the rendition of the first two . _
articles (18 sud 19 December), repetitious elements have been SS

omitted. The third article is given ia full...

Let *Wumbers in pareatbeses refer to appended sources./ _. oe

The chief_pilot for Transair Airlines, Flight Captain Ulf_Christierasson, 9... s
and his flight mechanic, Olle Johansson, reported that on the afternoon of —
17 December 1953, while flying in 6 DC-3 over Skaane, they sighted a myste-
rious circular metal object flying in an opposite direction of them at a speed -

estimated at about the speed of sound. The Sirmen estimated that the object ne
was about 10 meters in diameter. © ;

_ Captain Christiernsson, at present employed by Transair in flying the _

morning [Stockholm] papers.to.soutbern Sweden, has very extensive air ex-9 ~ 9-0: ae
rience, having served as a volunteer with the RAF from 1942-1946, finishing | 7

his service with the rank of captain. He flew 30 missions against. enemy terri- _

tory Yrom North Af ri¢eand Italy. oo .. ar —

2

Captain Christiernsson made the following statement to Dagens Nybeter:
"1 do not doubt for an instant that it was pot a jet plane. .What I sav vas a -
completely unorthodox, metallic, symmetric, round object which was unlike eny-"~ ~~ =a
thing I have-seen before. The ~ mysterious object appeared suddenly.on the air 8k.
route traveled by all controlled air traffic between Bulltoftea and Bromma “eir- 9 =
fields [at Malm6 and Stockholm respectively]. I myself was en route to Bromma.

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Over Basslehola, I saw an object -- on my right and obliquely in front of me,
flying at a somewhat lower altitude -- which at first I thought to be a Jet
plane. The silhouette was thin and it approached me at a very high velocity.
Olle Johansson and I have discussed the matter of its speed, and comparing ite
speed with, for example, that of the "Flying Rarrels" [J-29], we have estimated ~
.the speed to be about that of sound. The whole business took place fantastically |
quickly, but I believe that I was able to see the object for 4 to 5 seconds.

"When the object got closer, I was able to ascertain that it was symmetric
and metallic. It is very difficult to describe something that one has never... > - a
seen before, dDut I would say that it looked like e flying lozenge.--The object—-.. ---. — ~~
did not seem.to have a crew, but seemed more to be a robot. When it passed So
under the wing [of the DC-3], I could no longer see it. The mechanic, who was
able to observe it for. five more-seconds, confirms the fact that 4t was circular
or possibly somewhat elliptical in form. “Rt: the time_of the. incident, we were
flying at an altitude of 2,150 meters and the cloud ceiling was about 1,500 -
meters. Thus, the object should have been flying at an altitude of. between’ ”
1,500 and 1,600 meters. We estimated:the size to be about 10 meters in dias =~ 2-9 2) 2 soe
meter. It. left no exhaust or_condensation trail. .

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“We are both absolutely convinced that it could not have been a meteor or 8.
other celestial phenomenon. We did not see any distinct light but_were only = :
able to see that the object had a metallic lustre.-. Immediately after the ob-..-.—-—.--,-— >.
servation, we reported to F5 in Ljungbyhed and to the regional civil sir. Cores
security service at Bulltofta. The course of the object_was_ south-southwest. --- —-

The whole thing happened so_ quickly that we could not have > mansged ~ to change —— ~—----— -
course [and follow the object]...” :

Olle Johansson's statement was as follows: "I was sitting. forward fn the 0) 7D eS
right-hand seat.of the pilot's cabin when Captain Christiernsson pointed to_the ~~ 0 0s 00
object. What I saw was an ellipse with sharp outlines and something between
silver and white in color. I saw it for about 10 seconds. It was approaching :
from the north in a direction opposite to ours, at a speed Of about 1,200 kilo# ==
meters per hour. It was flying entirely above the clouds. Fran Malm8. north- Z
ward, we were able to see the ground for only a few myriameters and after that
there vas @ cloud covering all the way to Stockholm. We were flying st a speed -- ”
of about 270 kilometers yer hour. Ten minutes‘after the incident, we met an
SAS (Scandinavian Airlines System) DC-4. Therdupon, we estimated the object's -
speed at about three times that of the DC-4. Tirre seemed to be no flames or :
smoke trail from the object. Since we had the automatic Pilot on, we had no --
chance to tirn quickly enough to see where the object went."

The Defense Staff's short communique on the incident read as follows:
"At 1457 hours on Thureday, the crew on a civilian commercial plane observed,
in the vicinity of Hussleholm, an unknown object which moved at a high speed
in a direction opposite to that of the plane. The object was viewed for 6 to
7 seconds. At the time of the incident, there was clear weather at the alti- 4
tude at which the plane was flying. - Because. of the low cloud ceiling, the
object could not have been seen from the ground. Within the knowledge of the
Defense Staff, there was no Swedish plane in-tbe area concerned at the time of
the incident. Investigation continues." © 99-2) = ne .
d
. Reports of "flying saucers”"have arisén in both Europe and “America: on
countless occasions in receat re.rs but, according to a statement-to Dagens
Nyheter’ by a member of the Air Staff, these observations over Skaane can be.
termed ‘the clearest and most“detailed which heretofore have been made ‘regaciting —— :
_ mysterious; unknown aircraft«(1) — . ny a

“> . eos . ‘ rd

AN

"When the object got closer, I was able to ascertain that it was synmetric |
and metallic. It is very difficult to describe something that one has never . ‘
seen before, but I would say that it looked like a flying lozenge. The object
did not seem.to have a crew, but seemed more to be a robot. When it passed - -
under the wing [of the DC-3], I could no longer see it. The mechanic, who was
able to observe it for five more seconds, confirms the fact that it was circular
or possibly somewhat elliptical in-form. St: the time of the incident, we were -
flying at an altitude of 2,250 meters and the cloud ceiling was about 1,500
meters. Thus, the odject should have been flying at an altitude of between
1,500 and 1,600 meters. We estimated-the size to te about 10 meters in dia-
meter. It. left no exhaust or condensation trail. : .

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"ve are both absolutely convinced that it could not have been a meteor or gg
other celestial phenomenon. We-did not see any distinct light but vere only .
able to see that the object had a metallic lustre.- Immediately after the od- ,
servation, we reported to F5 in Ljungbyhed and to the regional civil air. oo
security service at Bulltofta. The course of the object was south-southwest.

The whole thing happened so quickly that we could not have managed to change... -.

course [and follow the object]..."

.Olle Johansson's statement was as follows; "I was sitting forward in the ©
right-hand seat of the pilot's cabin when Captain Christiernsson pointed to the: ........-...-.---
object. What I saw was an ellipse with sharp outlines and something between
silver and white in color. I sav it for about 10 seconds. It_was approaching  -..——§s__—s.
from the north in a direction opposite to ours; at a speed of about 1,200 kilo- a :
meters per hour. It was flying. entirely above the clouds. Fran Malm’ north- _.
ward, we were able to see the ground-for only a few myriameters and after that ~~~ ~~
there was & cloud covering all the way to Stockholm. We were flying at ea speed. ;
of about 270 kilometers per hour. Ten minutes‘after the incident, we met an . ~ -
SAS (Scandinavian Airlines System) DC-4y. Therdupon, we estimated the object's
speed at about three times that of the DC-h. tere seemed to be no flames or
smoke trail from the object. Since we had the automatic pilot on, ve had no-

chance to tirn quickly encugh to see where the object went."

The ‘Defense Staff's short communique on the incident read as follows: 7
"At 1457 hours on Thursday, the crew on a civilian commercial plane observed,
in the vicinity of Hassleholm, an unknown object which moved at a high speed ; ! oo.
in a direction opposite to that of the plane.:= The object vas vieved for 6Gto ~ rn
7 seconds. At the time of the incident, there was clear weather at the alti- 9-02-20 J -]
tude at which the plane was flying. Because. of the low cloud ceiling, the=— 9-3-2
object could not have been seen-from the ground. Within the knowledge of the
Defense Staff, there was no Swedish plane in-the area concerned at the time of wos
- the incident. Investigation continues." — con co .
. P)

. Reports of "flying saucers”*-have arisen in both Europe and | -America:on 7 : oe

countless octasions in rectat reors but, according to a statement-to Dafens — . Bou ge = ease
Nyheter’ by a member of the Air Staff, these observations over Skaane can be.-

termed the-clearest and most” “detailed which | heretofore have been made regarding

~~

_ mysterious, unknown aircraft. (1) a a

. . : -
. “2 . 7 + ' ' eee


00-W-29745

Experts Say Object Was Daylight Meteorite...

Both the Defense Staff and the Air Staff were working feverishly on -'

Friday (18 December) to solve the mystery of the “flying lozenge." They ne
arrived at no definite result, but the experts are mostly of the opinion ‘7.*. .
that the observed object was a daylight meteorite. The possibility that 14% -

vas a ballon or an unknown type of forcign aircraft is not ruled out, howe |
ever. The theory of a meteorite was put forth by one of the Persons in ae
Sweden best acquainted with the region, Bertil Lindblad of _the_obpservatory io. a

‘ Lund.
According to Lindblad, precisely in December the earth passes & swarm of oo

meteors known as the Geminids. The maximumoccurred on 13 December. Studies ~~
of the meteors have shown that just at the time of day at which the object was

seen -- about 1500 hours =<=-the meteors are approaching the.earth at ananglé.

of 3 degrees which means that their path is nearly parallel to the earth's _.
sucface. The @irection of the meteors-is-from north to south with a diss .— -
placement of 17 degrees which also seems to agree with the observations made.

In space, meteors have a-speed of 36 kilometers per second, but the speed ig +
reduced very greatly.when they come into the vicinity of the earth. I has j ;
not heretofore been possible to observe meteors during the day 60 it is not. =

known how they look in daylight. When the earth passed the same meteor swarm ss
last year, -@ lone meteor was observed ‘gpome days after the swarm had disap- a
pesred. That meteor was plainly a straggler. It was observed at night,bow-
ever, and therefore gave off @ weak, red glow. It fell also at ancentirely §' 000
Gifferent angle since it was a different time of day. . ee

Captain KAllenius of the Defense Staff stated that other_possible ex=
planations of the phenomenon have not been written off by_any means. To be -

sure, no Swedish balloons have been sent up, but propaganda and weather bal-—

Joons-have-been-sent up fram both Germany and Denmark. /With the type-of wind — oe —_

> and weather prevailing in recent days, it would have been possible for a val-.

Joon to have been driven-over Sweden. Captain Christiernsson and his mechanic; Se
Olle Johansson, stated in their report that the speed of the object approdched

that of sound; bowever,;-there-is great difficulty in judging speeds of. siiddénly
appearing objects, even for experienced observers. Captain KAllenius commented =
that if abdallom prior to its. observation had soared to a great altitude, it

might have lost some of its gas, giving it a flat forn. - .

In some quarters,.Captain Christiernsson's report has been regarded @8 @ =
prank. The Defense Staff, however, does not consider it a prank. Christiernsson,
on returning from another flight to Malm$ on Friday, gave heated assurances that
his report was the absolute truth. He said, “To be sure, I.-joke-a bit, but one -
does not joke about things like this. I saw something and reported my -obserya~
tions. What it was, I do not know."(2) seein mee,

Odject Stated to Be Advertising Balloon |

The mysterious “flying lozenge" over Hissléholm was probably neither 8
meteor nor a robot weapon, it was more likely an advertising balloon for-a
- Skaane perfume firm. The object was observed at 1500 on Thursday (17 December)
and on the same day between 1200 and 1300, Director Bertil Dahistrém of Maimd
~ had been up at Asphult on Linderodsaasen;- some myriameters south of Hd&ssieholn,
.to release 200 sivertising balloons. - : - “aden

On Saturday evening (19 December) Dahlstrdm telephoned Dagens Ryheter's 4 a
Main office and said, “With all certainty, it is one of our'dballoons which the = =
flyers sav. On Thursday-noon, we sent up over 300 balloons of various colors.
Their sizes varied from 15 to 30 centimeters in diameter. According to vhat °*

Late eas Rg ag

to release 200 sdivertising halloons. : > vende

wwe s ware tee rn ~- =— --

Sveden best acquainted with the region, Bertil Lindblad of the observatory in

“Jund.

According to Lindblad, precisely in December the earth passes @ swarm of
meteors kuown as the Geminids. The maximum owurred on. 13 December. Studies -
of the meteors mye shown that just at the time of day at which the object “was

- gean -- about 1500 hours -- the meteors are approaching the. earth at an angle.

of 3 degrees which means that their path is nearly parallel to the earth's
surface. The direction of the meteors is from north to south with a dis»:
placement of 17 degrees which also seems to agree with the observations made.

In space, meteors have a.speed of 36 kilometers per seccnd, but the speed is ,
reduced very greatly when they come-into the vicinity of the earth. It has .
not heretofore been possible to observe meteors during the day s0 it is not . *

known how they look in daylight. When the earth passed the same meteor swarin
last year, a lone meteor was observed some days after the swarm had disap- *.-
peared. That meteor was plainly a straggler. It was otserved at night, how-

ever, and therefore gave off a weak, red glow. _ It fell also at an‘entirely *°

different angle since it was a different time of day. - 8

Captain KAllenius of the Defense Staff stated that other possible ex-
planations of the phenomenon have- not been written off by any means» To be ---- _-
sure, no Swedish balloons have been sent up, but propagenda and veather dal-

joons have been sent up from both Germany and Denmark, With the type-df wind

- and weather prevailing in recent days, it would have been possible for-@ bal-... —-..- -..

Joon to have been driven over Sweden» Captain Christiernsson and his mechanic; _ or
Olle Johansson, stated in their_report that the . speed of the object approdched

that of sound; however,—there-is-great difficulty in juéging speeds of suddenly
appearing objects, even for experienced observers. Captain KAllenius commented oe

that if aballom prior-to its observation bad soared to a great. altitude, it

might have lost some of its gas, giving it 4 flat forn. , _ - .

In some quarters, Captain Christiernsson's report has _been regarded as a -
prank. The Defense Staff, however, does not consider it a prank. Christiernsson,
on returning from another flight to Malm8 on Friday, gave heated assurances that ___
his report was the absolute truth. He said, "To be sure, I.-jJoke-a bit, but one
does not joke about things like this. I saw something and reported my obserya=
tions. What it was, I do not know."(2) ,

Object Stated to Be Advertising Balloon 9-0

The mysterious “flying lozenge" over Hassleholm was probably neither 8
meteor nor a robot weapon, it vas more likely an advertising balloon for-a _ se
Skaane perfime firm,—The odject was observed at 1500 on Thursday (17 December)
and on the same day detween 1200 and 1300, Director Bertil Dehistrém of MalmS

had been up at Asphult on Linderodsaasen, some myriemeters south of Hassieholm,

On Saturday evening (19 December) Dahlstrdm telephoned Dagens Nyheter's  -
MaimS office and said, "With all certainty, it is one of our ‘balloons which the
flyers sav. _On Thursday-noon, we-sent up over 300 balloons of various colors.
Their sizes varied fram 15 to 30 centimeters in diameter. According to what» oo
we know from previous occasions, the balloons ought to rise 1,000 meters and

- - >>

AFCHIVAL RECORD |
AGENCY ARCHUVES, G > |

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00-W-297h5

maybe still higher, ¢epending on the weather. To each balloon wes attached an
advertisement card which the finder vas to return to the firm in Malm in ex-
change for a bottle of cologne. Some cards have already been returned from... - .-.
finders with addresses in Bissleholm, s0 it is clear that the balloons were = 2
driven by the prevailing winds to the place where the flyers observed the mys-

terious lozenge." wea

As of Saturday evening, the Air Staff did not know about the Skaane bal- - -
loons. On the other hand, the Air Staff had received a telephone eall from an-
- other person in Malm&, radio technician Lundbled. On the day before the ob-. -. -
- servation (16 December), he had sent up three weather balloons of acurrent = =
‘model. The wind vss so strong and in such & direction that it is not likely
that any of the three balloons could have remained over Skaane. Meteorological :
balloons are from 1 to 2 meters in diameter. ee :

Whether the perfume advertising balloons, which are considerably smaller
than meteorological talloons,could, through angles of refraction and. radiation... ..
of light, take on the appearance and size which Captain Christiernsson. reported. .
the object to be, is a question which cannot be answered until detailed cal- sis -
culations are made: Very likely, composite photographs and other techniques oe ood.
will be utilized to determine the matter. 0 Ut rg

No new observations have-been reported. during Saturday (19 December), and

the experts are now working with the material which came in earlier. Telephone ———_ ——
! calls have been received from a number of persons with nev theories; some of a i

which will be tested. In the meantime, the balloon theory seems-to have been “"  —-

strengthened through the latest reports from Skaane.(3) oe
. so oe a wee
1. Dagens Nybeter, 18 Dec 53 bee
_ , . @.=Yeids, 19 Dee 5300 an

3. Ibid., 20 Dec 53.

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loons. On the other hand, the Air Staff had received a telephone call from an-
other person in Malm8, radio technician Lundblad.—On the day before the ob-
- servation (16 December); he had sent up three weather balloons of a current
tmodel. The wind was so strong and in such a direction that it ie not likely
that any of the three balloons could have remained over Sksasane. Meteorological

balloons are from 1 to 2 meters in diameter. - 8

Whether the perfume advertising balloons, which are considerably amaller ~ :
than meteorological balloons,could, through angles of refraction and radiation .....0 2.5:
of light, take on the appearance and size which Ceptain Christiernsson reported. -
the object to be, is a question which cannot be answered until detailed cal-
culations are made. Very likely, composite photographs and other techniques... .. .. .

id

will de utilized to determine the matter. =”. a

No new observations have-been reported: during Saturday (19 December), and
the experts sre now working with the material which came in earlier. Telephone
calls bave been received from a number_of persons with new theories, some-of --
which will be tested. In the meantime, the balloon theory seems to have been
strengthened through the latest reports from Skaane.(3)° 0.

SOURCES -.-

1. Dagens Nybeter, 18 Dec 53 tet

| 2. Teigs, 19 Dee $3. | Lo, 7

. . eG

3. Ibvid., 20 Dec 53

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