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from official sources. Instead, the Project Hessdalen Fund was extended with private donations (however limited) and the whole project restructured to be able to support similar research also in other parts of Scandinavia. This rearrangement was initiated at a meeting in the Hessdalen Committee in November 1985 (see NUFON no. 1 1986 pp. 3-4). Since then, the investigation in Hessdalen has been limited to registering the reports still being given by local residents, together with correspondence and presentation of the project to foreign UFO-groups and magazines. This also includes the circulation of Project Hessdalen. Final Technical Report Part I by principal investigator Erling Strand; published in 1984 after the first on-site investigation. Slides and pictures taken by various researchers during the last seven years are also presented.

Highlights from sightings in Hessdalen 1981- 1988

In this section, a summary of the more important events in Hessdalen's sighting history will be presented. It also includes major features of Project Hessdalen after its foundation in 1983.

Pre-1981

According to various independent sources, several sightings and unusual events have been recorded in the 20th century. Notable activities have been during World War II and in the end of the 1960's. A significant observation is made in September 1980, which might be interpreted as an initial event, leading to the subsequent "flap" of the later years. Mr. August Holen observes three strange, saucer-shaped objects at close range when grouse hunting. Although he observes them for just a few seconds, the sighting makes a deep impression on him, and evidently becomes the first in a series of UFO-events. (See this magazine no. 2 1983 pp. 8-11.)

1981

During December, several local residents become aware of unusual and unexplainable light-phenomena in the valley.

1982

Transient, strange light-phenomena abound both in Hessdalen and, to some extent, the areas nearby. The activity peaks between January and April. Hessdalen instantly becomes famous, presented in mass-media both locally and nationally, culminating in a movie taken by the Norwegian Broadcasting Cooperation shown in late March. UFO-Norge performs the first public meeting in Alen 26 March. The activity prevails throughout the year, although reports fall to a low level during the summer, mainly because of the luminous nights at these latitudes. By the end of the year, Hd. arouses growing attention among UFO-groups around the world.

1983

Public interest in Hessdalen is still high, although activity has faded somewhat compared to that of the previous year. Project Hessdalen is established 2-4 June in Sweden at a meeting between UFO-Norge and Riksorganisationen UFO-Sverige. The project is presented internationally at BUFORA's Conference in London in August. Several noted ufologists become members of the Advisory Committee. The Project work proceeds during the autumn of that year, preparing for a heavy manned and instrumented field-investigation in 1984.

1984

The first thorough, scientifically based field-investigation in Scandinavia takes place in January and February. The subsequent report, presenting preliminary results is published in late 1984. During this year, general activity