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URECAT - UFO Related Entities Catalog

URECAT is a formal catalog of UFO related entities sightings reports with the goal of providing quality information for accurate studies of the topic. Additional information, corrections and reviews are welcome at patrick.gross@inbox.com, please state if you wish to be credited for your contribution or not. The main page of the URECAT catalog is here.

FEBRUARY 5, 1971, KANGASKYLA, KINNULA, FINLAND, PETTER ALIRANTA AND ESKO HUHANI SNECK:

Brief summary of the event and follow-up:

Months after the alleged facts, a Finnish ufologist tells in a British ufology magazine that on Friday, February 5, 1971, two young lumberjacks from Kinnula, Petter Aliranta, aged 21, and Esko Juhani Sneck aged 18, were working in the woods of the village of Kangaskyla in Kinnula near the borders of the counties of Middle Finland and Vaasa.

The story says that about 03:00 p.m., they were about to stop working because the cloudy day was slowly turning dark. Aliranta had just turned off his motor saw, when he suddenly noticed a strange metallic-looking object at tree-top level, descending straight down, looking like a kids' comic books flying saucer, 5 meters in diameter, with four 5 to 10 centimeters thin landing feet that were more than 2 meters long.

The saucer landed in a small clearing between the trees some 15 meters from Aliranta and Sneck. Sneck, however, is said to have not realized what was going on at this time because he was still busy cutting branches off a tree with his motor saw.

During the descent, a round opening appeared in the center of the underpart of the UFO. When it landed, a strange little being glided down from the opening, and arrived at the snow-covered ground two meters below the opening, not as if he had jumped of fallen, but actually floating down.

The being then approached Aliranta, in very stiff movements and slow short and steady steps. It did not go down in the deep snow when it walked but remained on the surface.

The being is described as looking "like a space-man, or robot," it was less than one meter tall, perhaps 90 centimeters. Its body was covered with a one-piece suit of a green color, also covering the head. At the center of the head where the face would be, there was a sort of lens facing forwards. Its hands were round at the tips and no fingers could be seen. It has kinds of "boots" at the feet; which were part of the entire suit and also green.

Aliranta started his motor saw and began to approach the being with the motor saw in hand. At this time, Sneck became aware of the strange happenings because of the noise of Aliranta's motor saw.

"The little green man" and Aliranta were approaching each other and the distance between them was now less than 10 meters, when the being suddenly turned around and started to walk back towards the saucer.

This made Aliranta braver and he hurried to catch the humanoid.

Three other beings were now visible behind one of three "windows" on the one meter wide top side of the flying saucer; which constitues an obvious inconsistency in the story. They were described as being moving and human-like although no features or details could be seen.

Aliranta was now about to grab the walking being, when about three meters from the saucer, it rose into the air in a strange way, floating towards the opening from which it had come. When it had risen to more than one meter above the ground, Aliranta quickly reached out and grabbed the heel of the being's right "boot" with his bare right hand.

But he had to let go immediately as it burned like a hot iron, the wounds caused by the burning on the thumb, forefinger and inside of the hand still clearly visible two months later.

At the same time, Aliranta automatically took a couple of steps backwards, and the being thus managed to float into the saucer.

At the moment the being was into the saucer, it started to give a slight humming or buzzing sound and slowly started to take off.

Aliranta felt a weak gust of air at this moment, but no smoke or smell could be detected, nor any light phenomenon. There were no lights visible on or in the vehicle during the incident whatsoever.

As the saucer rose upwards the round opening at the bottom closed, but the landing feet kept their position, and in about 15 seconds the whole object had disappeared into the sky.

The two men said the encounter lasted at least three minutes. After the saucer had gone, they could not talk because they were too amazed by the whole incident. They felt stiff all over, and had some difficulty in moving, especially Aliranta. It took them near an hour before they were able to walk away from the woods.

Before leaving, they examined the markings left in the snow, as evidence of the incredible happening: at the end of each landing foot, there had been a round plate and these plates had penetrated the full depth of the snow cover which as then about 40 centimeters. It left four round prints about 35 centimeters across in an even square with a side of about 2 meters. Within this square, the snow had melted some 5-10 centimeters on the surface. The footsteps left by the being were also clearly visible, 15 centimeters in size and quite circular in shape. The strides were all along the same length, even those made during the chase, of about 20 centimeters.

The Finnish ufologist indicates that during the course of the investigation, no details appeared of anything which could have made the story of these two men questionable.

Decades later, a skeptic ufologist informs that according to information he received, the entire story was invented by a radio journalist.

Basic information table:

Case number: URECAT-000145
Date of event: February 5, 1971
Earliest report of event: September 1971
Delay of report: 8 months
Witness reported via: Not known.
First alleged record by: Ufology magazine.
First certain record by: Ufology magazine.
First alleged record type: Ufology magazine.
First certain record type: Ufology magazine.
This file created on: April 5, 2007
This file last updated on: April 5, 2007
Country of event: Finland
State/Department: Central Finland
Type of location: clearing.
Lighting conditions: End of daytime.
UFO observed: Yes
UFO arrival observed: Yes
UFO departure observed: Yes
UFO/Entity Relation: Certain
Witnesses numbers: 2 or 0
Witnesses ages: 21, 18
Witnesses types: Lumberjacks.
Photograph(s): No.
Witnesses drawing: No.
Witnesses-approved drawing: No.
Number of entities: 4
Type of entities: Humanoid
Entities height: 1 or 0.90 meters
Entities outfit type: One piece diving suit, helmet, facepiece.
Entities outfit color: Not reported.
Entities skin color: Not reported.
Entities body: Not reported.
Entities head: Under suit and lens.
Entities eyes: Not visible.
Entities mouth: Not visible.
Entities nose: Not visible.
Entities feet: Under suit.
Entities arms: Not reported.
Entities fingers: None or not visible.
Entities fingers number: None or not visible.
Entities hair: Not visible.
Entities voice: None heard.
Entities actions: Came out of UFO, saw witness, went back in, departure.
Entities/witness interactions: None.
Witness(es) reactions: Observed, went.
Witness(es) feelings: Nor reported. Attempted to grab entity.
Witness(es) interpretation: Not reported.
Explanation category: Journalistic hoax.
Explanation certainty: High.

Narratives:

[Ref. tk1:] TAPANI KUNINGAS:

The Finnish ufologist indicates that on Friday, February 5, 1971, two young men from Kinnula, Petter Aliranta, aged 21, and Esko Juhani Sneck aged 18, were working in the woods of the village of Kangaskyla in Kinnula near the borders of the counties of Middle Finland and Vaasa.

At approximately 03:00 p.m., they were about to stop working because the cloudy day was slowly turning dark. Aliranta had just turned off his motor saw, when he suddenly noticed a strange metallic-looking object at tree-top level, descending straight down.

The object had the shape of two saucers on top of each other and was about 5 meters in diameter. At its bottom, it had four 5 to 10 centimeters thin landing feet that were more than 2 meters long.

In a few moments, the object descended in a small clearing between the trees some 15 meters from Aliranta and Sneck. Sneck, however did not notice what was going on at this time because he was still busy cutting branches off a tree with his motor saw.

During the descent, a round opening appeared in the center of the underpart of the UFO. When it landed, a strange little being glided down from the opening, and arrived at the snow-covered ground two meters below the opening, not as if he had jumped of fallen, but actually floating down.

The being then approached Aliranta, in very stiff movements and slow short and steady steps. It did not go down in the deep snow when it walked but remained on the surface.

The being is described as looking "like a space-man, or robot," it was less than one meter tall, perhaps 90 centimeters. Its body was covered with a one-piece suit of a green color, also covering the head. At the center of the head where the face would be, there was a sort of lens facing forwards. Its hands were round at the tips and no fingers could be seen. It has kinds of "boots" at the feet; which were part of the entire suit and also green.

Aliranta started his motor saw and began to approach the being with the motor saw in hand. At this time, Sneck became aware of the strange happenings because of the noise of Aliranta's motor saw.

"The little green man" and Aliranta were approaching each other and the distance between them was now less than 10 meters, when the being suddenly turned around and started to walk back towards the saucer.

This made Aliranta braver and he hurried to catch the humanoid.

Three other beings were now visible behind one of three "windows" on the one meter wide top side of the flying saucer. They were described as being moving and human-like although no features or details could be seen.

Aliranta was now about to grab the walking being, when about three meters from the saucer, it rose into the air in a strange way, floating towards the opening from which it had come. When it had risen to more than one meter above the ground, Aliranta quickly reached out and grabbed the heel of the being's right "boot" with his bare right hand.

But he had to let go immediately as it burned like a hot iron, the wounds caused by the burning on the thumb, forefinger and inside of the hand still clearly visible two months later.

At the same time, Aliranta automatically took a couple of steps backwards, and the being thus managed to float into the saucer.

At the moment the being was into the saucer, it started to give a slight humming or buzzing sound and slowly started to take off.

Aliranta felt a weak gust of air at this moment, but no smoke or smell could be detected, nor any light phenomenon. There were no lights visible on or in the vehicle during the incident whatsoever.

As the saucer rose upwards the round opening at the bottom closed, but the landing feet kept their position, and in about 15 seconds the whole object had disappeared into the sky.

The two men said the encounter lasted at least three minutes. After the saucer had gone, they could not talk because they were too amazed by the whole incident. They felt stiff all over, and had some difficulty in moving, especially Aliranta. It took them near an hour before they were able to walk away from the woods.

Before leaving, they examined the markings left in the snow, as evidence of the incredible happening: at the end of each landing foot, there had been a round plate and these plates had penetrated the full depth of the snow cover which as then about 40 centimeters. It left four round prints about 35 centimeters across in an even square with a side of about 2 meters. Within this square, the snow had melted some 5-10 centimeters on the surface. The footsteps left by the being were also clearly visible, 15 centimeters in size and quite circular in shape. The strides were all along the same length, even those made during the chase, of about 20 centimeters.

The author indicates that during the course of the investigation, no details appeared of anything which could have made the story of these two men questionable.

The following drawing illustrated the article:

[Ref. bw1:] TED BLOECHER AND DAVID WEBB:

In their HUMCAT catalogue, these ufologists indicated that on February 5, 1971, in the afternoon, two young men, P. Aliranta and E. J. Sneck, were working in the woods in Kangaskyla, Kinnula, Finland.

Aliranta noticed a 15 foot wide metallic saucer-shaped object descend and land on four thin legs in a clearing 50 feet away.

After it landed, a short entity just under three feet tall glided to the ground from an opening in the underside. The entity was dressed in a green one-piece "diver's suit" and wore a helmet with a circular faceplate.

It approached the young men, walking on top of the deep snow, and Aliranta moved toward it with his power chain saw in hand.

Through three windows in the upper part of the object, three more entities were seen.

The humanoid retreated from Aliranta, and was levitating into the object from underneath, when the young man grabbed it by the heel of its boot with his bare hand. He found that touching it burned like a hot iron and he had to let go at once.

As soon as the being was back inside the object, it ascended with a slight buzzing or humming sound.

Both men felt stiff all over and had difficulty moving. Four landing leg marks and small footprints were left behind in the snow.

The authors indicate that the source is Tapani Kuningas, in FSR Vol. 17 #5.

[Ref. ar1:] ALBERT ROSALES:

Albert Rosales indicates in his catalogue that in Kangaskyla, Kinnula, Finland, on February 5, 1971, at 03:00 p.m., two young men, P. Aliranta and E. J. Sneck, were working in the woods when Aliranta noticed a 15 foot metallic object, shaped like two saucers put together, and with four thin legs, descending in a clearing 50 feet away.

As it landed, a little entity just under 3 foot tall glided to the ground from an opening in the underside; dressed in green one-piece "diver's suit," it wore a helmet with a circular faceplate.

It approached the young men, walking on top of the deep snow, and Aliranta moved toward it with his motor saw in hand. Through three windows on the upper part of the object, three more entities could be seen. The humanoid retreated before Aliranta and was rising into the air under the object when the young man grabbed it by the heel of its boot with its bare hand; he found it burned like a hot iron, and he had to let go at once.

As soon as the being was back in the object, it ascended with a slight buzzing sound or hum. Both men felt stiff all over and had difficulty in moving. Four landing leg marks and small footprints were left in the snow.

Albert Rosales indicates that the source is Tapani Kuningas, FSR Vol. 17 #5.

[Ref. lg1:] LUIS R. GONZALES MANSO:

Luis R. Gonzalez Manso notes in his FirstHumCat catalogue that in Finland, in Kinnula, on February 5, 1971, the following hoax was perpetrated:

Two lumbermen encountered a UFO and a humanoid. Another man tried to catch the humanoid and burned his hand when he touched the humanoids boot.

In the 1990's, the ufologists were told that it was a hoax designed by a local radio reporter.

Luis Gonzales indicates that his sources are Tapani Kuningas, in "The Humanoid at Kinnula", in FSR 17:5, and Marko Repo, personal communication, 2003.

Points to consider:

In journalistic hoaxes, aliens are little green men and flying saucers look like in cartoons for kids.

Tapani Kuningas, who seems to be the only real source for the story, evokes without any details an investigation. In a hoax, it can naturally be claimed that there was an investigation. It is not without significance that nothing is known as to who was supposed to have investigated and that nothing seems to exist about this investigation other than conclusions claiming the story true with the reason that it is was found consistent.

But at least one obvious inconsistency exists in the story. It is stated that three more beings were visible behind one of three windows in a higher part of the saucer measuring one meter abroad. On a part of one meter broad, if there were three windows, each window could hardly measure more than 20 to 30 centimeters in width, and there is no way that it would let see three beings moving behind. This type of inconsistencies is the sort of inevitable trademark in hoaxes.

List of issues:

Id: Topic: Severity: Date noted: Raised by: Noted by: Description: Proposal: Status:
1 Data Severe April 5, 2007 Patrick Gross Patrick Gross Precise origin of the story unknown. Help needed. Opened.
2 Data Severe April 5, 2007 Patrick Gross Patrick Gross No detail available about the fraudulent nature of the story. Help needed. Opened.
3 Data Severe April 5, 2007 Patrick Gross Patrick Gross Alleged investigation untraceable. Help needed. Opened.
4 Data Severe April 5, 2007 Patrick Gross Patrick Gross Inconsistence in story. Help needed. Opened.

Evaluation:

Journalistic hoax.

Sources references:

* = Source I checked.
? = Source I am told about but could not check yet. Help appreciated.

Document history:

Authoring

Main Author: Patrick Gross
Contributors: None
Reviewers: None
Editor: Patrick Gross

Changes history

Version: Created/Changed By: Date: Change Description:
0.1 Patrick Gross April 5, 2007 Creation, [tk1], [bw1], [ar1], [lg1].
0.2 Patrick Gross April 5, 2007 First published.

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This page was last updated on April 5, 2007