Chosen by the gods - the enigma of ufo contact

A recent trend in UFO literature is to present just one case in a book - thoroughly investigated and analyzed. This is especially rewarding dealing with close-encounter cases and repeater experiences. These reports usually produce large amounts of data, impossible to cover in a magazine article. "The missing seven hours" is a good example. It is written by the Canadian ufologist David Haisell, editor of "Journal UFO". He spent over a year investigating and documenting the experiences of Gerry and Susan Armstrong (not their real names). They have been constantly haunted by UFOs and psychic phenomena for 25 years. UFOs, blackouts, time distortions, poltergeists, doppelgängers, mystery helicopters; you name it - they´ve got it!! But why has the phenomenon "chosen" the Armstrongs?

When Gerry was twelve years old and living in England, he had a seven hour blackout. Coming out of it he felt like floating, not physically touching the ground. Everything seemed misty, like in a dreamstate. Could this have been a spontaneous out-of-the-body experience? Was a psychic link established here? In 1963 Gerry and Susan observes a UFO. The object emits some form of rings or ripples. The effect of this observation is that Gerry suddenly remembers the details concerning his missing seven hours, but not what happened during the blackout. Before moving to Canada the phenomena-circus has already started. Someone knocks on the door, but nobody is waiting outside. Several times taps in the bathroom are found turned on and water running.

After their settling in Canada Susan, on two successive nights, suddenly exclaims "They´re coming". Susan and Gerry walk down to the lake-shore where a redglowing, pulsating object hovers. They become entranced by this phenomenon and watch it for some time. On another occasion, also on two successive nights, a tadpole-like object projects two beams on first Susan and then Gerry. "We can´t explain why these events are continually happening to us. They just happen", says the Armstrongs. And they are not alone in their frustration. These findings are reported from all over the world. It is not an isolated phenomenon. I have personally investigated, here in Sweden, a report which bears a strong resemblance to the Armstrong case. The Swedish couple I have in mind was constantly haunted by the same kinds of phenomena for over ten years. They even mention the "ripple effect".

David Haisell has done a good job amassing all the details of the case, especially the subjective ones, which many ufologists are apt to forget. Even if the experiences many times have been frightening and frustrating to the family, the psychological effects are obviously positive. Gerry reports a highly increased intellectual ability and the Armstrongs are now speculating that it is all part of an evolutionary process.

What still puzzles me though: are the phenomena the result of a technological civilization or do they originate in somebody´s psychic powers/mind-manipulation? Perhaps, Brad Steiger, they are the "Gods of Aquarius"...?

David Haisell: The missing seven hours. - Markham, Ontario, Canada: Paperjacks, 1978. -pocket, 162 s.

Håkan Blomqvist

(Publicerad i AFU nyhetsblad nr. 18, jan-mars 1980)