THINK ABOUTIT UFO SIGHTING REPORT
Date: early 1952
Sighting Time:
Day/Night: evening
Location: Mjod Vattnet, Vasterbotten, Sweden
Urban or Rural: Rural
Hynek Classification: CE-III (Close Encounter III) Close observation with animate beings associated with the object.
Duration:
No. of Object(s): 1
Size of Object(s):
Distance to Object(s): 50 meters away
Shape of Object(s): cigar shaped object with wings
Color of Object(s):
Number of Witnesses: 1
Special Features/Characteristics: a small man, about half a meter tall, came towards him
Source: Sven Olof Svensson
Summary/Description: Helge Nystrom, a farmer, was cleaning a ditch on his property when he looked up and saw a cigar shaped object with wings, land 50 meters away. As he watched the object, a small man, about half a meter tall, came towards him, walking along a ditch bank. The man looked like a round football in his outfit. As the humanoid caught sight of Mr. Nystrom he ran to the “cigar” as fast as he could. The witness then hid behind some willows. A few seconds later there was a sharp explosion, like a blasting discharge, and when the witness looked up both the object and the little man were gone. There were no traces left at the site.
The Swedish Wave of 1952
This encounter at Mjod Vattnet occurred during a significant period of Nordic UFO activity. While the United States was experiencing the famous Washington D.C. flap, Scandinavia was also reporting high-strangeness events. This specific Sweden sighting is a textbook example of a Close Encounter of the Third Kind (CE-III) due to the direct interaction with an animate being. The description of the craft—a cigar shape with wings—is an interesting departure from the more common “flying saucer” discs of the era, suggesting a different mechanical archetype for the object.
Analysis of the “Football” Entity
One of the most unique aspects of Helge Nystrom’s report is the description of the occupant. Described as only half a meter tall and appearing like a “round football” in its outfit, this entity suggests a pressurized or protective suit rather than a biological description of the being itself. The “sharp explosion” or blasting discharge that accompanied the departure is a physical detail often associated with high-energy propulsion systems in early 1950s cases. The fact that the object vanished instantly without leaving physical traces is a common, though frustrating, hallmark of these temporary landings.
Witness Reliability and Source
This case was preserved by researcher Sven Olof Svensson, a key figure in documenting early Swedish encounters. Helge Nystrom, being a rural farmer performing routine chores, represents the “average” witness whose lack of prior interest in the subject often adds a layer of credibility to the account. His reaction—to hide behind willows—is a primal human response to the unknown, reinforcing the authentic nature of the terror felt during such an encounter.
