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Mufon Ufo Journal
Mufon Ufo Journal
SOLAR DISK
MUFON UFO JOURNAL
(USPS 002-970)
(ISSN 0270-6822)
103 Oldtowne Rd.
FROM THE EDITOR
Seguin, Texas 78155-4099 U.S.A.
The harder one strives for perfection, it seems, the more deftly
DENNIS W. STACY it slips away. In short, last issue's cover (a striking photograph of the
Editor Marfa Lights by James Crocker of Dallas) was printed upside down!
WALTER H. ANDRLJS, JR. In the same issue a letter in reference to Dennis Stillings's helicopter
International Director and article (No. 231) went uncredited. The author was England's Jenny
Associate Editor Randies, of course. And in this issue, space considerations caused
THOMAS P. DEULEY us to delete some of the exhibits accompanying Barry Greenwood's
Art Director MJ-12 article. Our apologies to all those involved. We would also
MILDRED BIESELE apologize for the presence of two articles on the Billy Meier case,
Contributing Editor except that any highly visible and controversial UFO incident is
ANN DRUFFEL always subject to closer scrutiny. Your comments are welcome.
Contributing Editor Our present cover, courtesy of NASA, is a high resolution X-
ray photograph of the sun calibrated to a temperature of one million
PAUL CERNY degrees centigrade.
Promotion/Publicity
MARGE CHRISTENSEN
Public Relations
REV. BARRY DOWNING
Religion and UFOs
LUCIUS PARISH
Books/Periodicals/History In this issue
ROSETTA HOLMES
Promotion/Publicity
REASSESSING THE MEIER CASE by Dennis Stacy 3
T. SCOTT GRAIN OCCULTNESS & AMBIGUITY by James Deardorff 5
GREG LONG MJ-12 MAGIC ACT by Barry Greenwood 10
MICHAEL D. SWORDS LOOKING BACK by Bob Gribble 17
Staff Writers CENTRAL EUROPEAN STUDIES by Illobrand von Ludwiger 19
TED PHILLIPS UFOs SCIENTIFICALLY LEGITIMATE by Irena Scott 20
Landing Trace Cases ' UFOs 1947-1987 REVIEWED by Dennis Stacy 23
JOHN F. SCHUESSLER DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE by Walt Andrus 24
Medical Cases COVER: The Solar Disk, courtesy by NASA
LEONARD STRINGFIELD
UFO Crash/Retrieval
WALTER N.WEBB
Astronomy
NORMA E. SHORT
DWIGHT CONNELLY
DENNIS HAUCK
RICHARD H. HALL The Mutual UFO Network, Inc. is exempt from Federal Income Tax under
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REASSESSING THE MEIER CASE
By Dennis Stacy
Dennis Stacy is editor of the this first book about Meier was penned seven was portrayed as female: the
Journal. by an "outsider." Who else among us sisters, the virgins, the maidens, the
would have touched it with a ten-foot goddesses."
pole? Yet virtually the first source I
Perhaps already intellectually The intention here is not to consulted on the subject painted a
exhausted from having to review two resuscitate Meier's (or Kinder's) significantly different, although
books in the course of a single season reputation, but to show that any outwardly similar, picture. The article is
(Communion and Intruders), the NY significant UFO case, and this is "Asiatic Parallels in North American
Times Book Review gave Gary certainly that, whether real or not, is Star Lore (Milky Way, Pleiades,
Kinder's Light Years short shrift. "This worth considering for what it potentially Orion)" by William B. Gibbon of the
earnest but silly and sloppy book is reveals about the UFO phenomenon University of Nebraska, Lincoln, which
entirely devoted to Eduard Meier, a and how it's perceived by society, both appeared in the July-September, 1972
one-armed, uneducated, down-and-out at large and within the miniscule UFO issue of the Journal 'of American
caretaker who lives in a small Swiss community itself. If the Meier case is an Folklore (pp. 236-247). The first crack
village outside Zurich and who was a outright hoax, as many ufologists in Pleidean invincibility occurs when
celebrity in U.F.O. circles in the believe, then it becomes a legitimate Gibbon writes, "With regard to the
1970's," wrote reviewer Edward study in counterfeit currency and a Pleiades, two basic motifs stand out
Dolnick (July 19, 1987, p.21). standard by which real coins can be among the North American Indians: a
The UFO community has not judged. Conversely, it can also be group of women, and a group of
exactly greeted Light Years with open applied as a sort of Rorshach test for dancing youths (p. 242)." Are these
arms, either, while waxing ecstatic over individual'ufologists. What, specifically, "dancing youths" always women,
Budd Hopkins's Intruders, a book about the Meier case, ruffles your too, as Kinder so confidently asserts?
whose implications are no less startling hackles or "turns you off'? Is your Alas, no. Gibbon continues:1 "In some
(or fantastic). Part of the response, no discomfiture based on evidence you cases several conflicting myths have
doubt, can be attributed to an "us vs. know to be true and contrary, or simply been recorded from the same tribe. The
them" mentality, Hopkins being a well- a knee-jerk response of which we most important element of this motif
regarded researcher within the field, constantly accuse skeptics and seems to be the dancing, since the
Kinder being a newcomer, or more debunkers? What follows then is less a participants vary in number and are
accurately, an outsider altogether. comprehensive outline of Light Years generally designated as children, boys
Other prejudices come into play, too. than an occasional comment where or young men, or, more rarely (my
Meier is a "repeater," for instance, one deemed relevant. emphasis), young women."
who has reported a succession of visits A d m i t t e d l y , the Pleiades,
from humanlike beings aboard THE PLEIADES worldwide, have been most commonly
"beamships" claiming to be from the associated with women, as Kinder's
Pleiades. His reputation, in this country In places Kinder certainly reveals sources suggest, but this is perhaps not
at least, preceded him. He was pictured himself as overly gullible, trusting so mysterious, either, as it is made to
as a master hoaxter who managed to completely in his major confidants seem. (The idea, as employed in Light
stage series after series of the most (Stevens, the Elders) when a little Years, is to support Meier's contention
spectacular UFO photographs anyone independent research would have that his female contact came from the
had ever seen, though no one mitigated, if not drastically altered "seven sisters," or Pleiades, and that by
satisfactorily explained how this was altogether, some of his suppositions. implication the Pleiadeans may have
achieved with a single arm and limited For example, he falls hook, line and been visiting us for millenia, that, in fact,
resources. Everyone seemed to agree, sinker for the "singularity" of the such visitations a la ancient astronauts
though, almost by unconscious fiat, Pleiades, writing (p. 143) that "Though may have given rise to Pleiadean
that Meier's pictures were simply "too the Pleiades form little more than a mythology in the first place, accounting
good to be true." Then, there was the speck in the visible night sky, no other for its almost global uniformity and
matter of his "guilt-by-association" star group has been mentioned as spread. We have already seen that said
with Wendelle Stevens, now serving frequently in the literature and "uniformity" is not the case, according
time in an Arizona prison. With such mythology of world cultures for the past to Gibbon.)
predispositions already in place, two and a half millenia. And in euery Is there anything else about the
perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that (my italics) instance, the tiny cluster of Pleiades, significant enough in itself to
3
warrant so many ancient cultures Unlike most armchair ufologists convinced, period, no matter how
paying "undue" attention to what (and skeptics, too, for that matter), frequently they populate the field.
everyone agrees is a fairly visually Kinder got off his duff and actually Conversely, those who can be
nondescript group of stars? Gibbon (p. visited Meier and his surroundings. The convinced, are easily swayed by a single
243) continues: "Among the many details of those three visits, totaling sample. The best a "skeptical believer"
poses of the Greek sister Pleiades is almost 13 weeks in Switzerland, were can manage is the position that
that of dancers. The Greeks credited reported in his open letter to the UFO sometimes Geller cheats — and
the young women with introducing the community in the April 1987 issue of the sometimes he doesn't. But for Meier to
circular dance (I can already hear MUFON UFO Journal, and need not have cheated once, if cheat he did, is
someone saying, "shades of saucers!" - overly concern us here. Suffice it to say considered inexcusable and we need
author). A more specific reason for that Kinder talked with numerous not look further. So the esoteric secret,
their gaiety was that the Pleiades, rising associates of Meier, pro and con, perhaps, preserves itself from prying,
in the autumn, proclaimed the harvest including the neighborhood 'photo profane eyes.
(my emphasis again). In other words, processor where Meier developed his
the Pleiades were paid attention by film, and uncovered no obvious signs of IMPLICATIONS
"primitive" peoples because of the time collusion and/or massive hoaxing. He
of year they rose, not because celestial also documented those aspects of the The final and most important
visitors from same pointed them out as case that have proved the most aspect of the Meier Conundrum is how
their "home." frustrating and perplexing: the the enveloping mythology is employed
disappearance of the so-called unique by individuals according to their own
HUMAN MYTH Beamship metal samples from Dr. predisposed beliefs. A favorite taunt of
Marcel Vogel's laboratory, even as Dr. ufology, for example, frequently hurled
Another argument, based on the Richard Haines was on his way over to at scoffers, is Arthur C. Clarke's Law
content of the actual myths, also the lab to view them, the full-spectrum "that any advanced technology will
mitigates against Pleiadean singularity, sound recording of another Pleiadean appear as magic." Like a magical
a point which Kinder and/or his Beamship, and the photographs taken mantra, a subset of mental technology,
sources, fail to mention, presumably, by Meier of an earthquake-ravaged San it can be used post facto to "explain"
one supposes, because it doesn't . Francisco , supposedly retrieved from away standard UFO mysteries like the
support their case. This is the fact that the future, but later shown to have been absence of a radar return, sudden aerial
in almost every myth Gibbon relates, artwork previously published in Geo acceleration and stops, abrupt
the Pleiades are seen as, i.e., represent, magazine. materialization and disappearances,
humans who have gone up to heaven, But the Meier case, need it be and intergalactic travel, not to mention
and not vice versa. remembered, is hardly the first a volume of visitations that amounts to
Gibbon again, page 243, cites "the extended UFO event to be plagued by traffic jam proportions. And these
Blackfoot who, in addition to the contradictory, or even suspiciously lesser mysteries do not even begin to
dancers, saw the Pleiades as a group of produced evidence, as is true of much touch on the greater ones associated
boys who ascended to the sky out of "paranormal" phenomena, from with the beings who purportedly
pique because their fathers had given telekinesis to the production of occupy UFOs, with their powers of
some buffalo hides to their sisters ectoplasm. Some of those historical mental telepathy, transmogrification,
instead of to them. In another legend precedents have subsequently fared and the ability to pass through solid
the Pleiades represented six brothers better or worse.in the UFO literature; matter.
whose parents were too poor to few have generated as much internal If we accept future- technology
provide the boys with buffalo robes. heat and controversy. In the name of prima facie as magical, what is there in
Feeling embarrassed, they resolved to "scientific respectability" we ufologists the Meier case, then, as well as
ascend to the sky. The neighboring constantly clamor for the incontrovert- countless others, that prevents our
Assiniboine also saw seven poverty- ible, physical proof of a solid object welcoming it as extremely solid
stricken youths." behind the UFO phenomenon. Yet the evidence of extraterrestrial visitation?
To be fair, the Wyandot Indians, Meier case, if it reveals anything, shows Certainly it is magical enough, and
northeast of the Great Lakes, says us that "evidence" is just as elusive as since the consideration foo magical
Gibbon, portrayed the Pleiades "as six the phenomenon itself, and that cannot apply by definition, could it be
singing maidens, daughters of the sun ultimately we can no more agree on its that we simply have too much
and moon, who wished to come to substance than we can reach unison as "evidence" in and of itself? If this is
earth to sing for the tribe." Students of to its meaning. indeed the case, we need not examine
mythology and its repetition may still A parallel example, in more ways Meier so much as our own
find the more interesting comparison to than one, would be a comparison of the preconceptions. Ultimately, the UFO
be between "poverty-stricken youths" careers of Meier and Uri Geller. There phenomenon may be incapable of
and Meier's own financial predicament, are plenty of bent spoons around, too, proof, which places it squarely in an
than between Semjase and the but those that cannot be convinced of experiential — or existential —
Pleiades. their paranormal bending, connot be (continued on page 22)
4
OCCULTNESS & AMBIGUITY
By James Deardorff
Mr. Deardorff is Professor seek a message from the stars, not from mankind is better prepared for the
Emeritus of Atmospheric Sciences, a contactee on Earth. It would be very first official, overt contact. That is, that
Oregon State University. disappointing to them to have scientific a prime contactee could be allowed a lot
interest in the ETI problem shift from of color photographs and some movie-
INTRODUCTION — ETI AND radio astronomy to the UFO- film exposure of their craft, but not
THE MEIER CASE contactee-abductee problem. allowed any photos of themselves nor
If we could dip into the past, say allowed to bring any others to witness
One of the many messages coming 200 years ago, and bring back some the actual contact meetings. I have
from the Meier case is the well known people and scientists to examine our menioned five reasons now (italicized)
idea that UFO intelligences are to be present technology, they would regard why the Meier case was rejected,
equated with e x t r a t e r r e s t r i a l much of it as magic, or occult. Similarly around 1979, by the main UFO
intelligences (ETIs). Essentially the for us if we were brought 200 years into organizations which spent little or no
same idea minus the UFOs happens the future, assuming our civilization time looking into it before calling it a
also to be a respectable school of survives that long. Therefore, what we hoax.
thought discussed in astronomical or ETIs 1,000 years into our future A sixth reason is that Meier said he
journals for the past 15 years. This is the could do would seem like magic raised had been a contactee on many
hypothesis that extraterrestrial to the 5th power (1000/200). What ETIs occasions well before 1975. Of course,
intelligences (ETIs) are in our proximity 3,500 years ahead of us could do would this would be a perfectly logical course
and have been aware of us for millennia. seem like magic raised to about the 17th of action for ETIs who were pursuing a
However, radio astronomers usually power — extremely occult. If there are strategy and who needed to educate
prefer the competing hypothesis that all any ETI-contactees around today who their contactee in certain matters.
ETIs are essentially forever isolated have been treated to some displays of However, that fact was held against
within relatively small spheres of their contactors and who have reported Meier on the grounds that ETI contacts
influence within the galaxy, and that we on it, their reports would therefore seem or UFO sightings should be random
have therefore by chance escaped their very occult to the rest of us. Eduard things. Only recently have UFO
detection so far. Meier is one such contactee whose organizations begun to realize, after
The problem with this astronom- reports, if genuine, should seem like several books on UFO abductions
ical view is that it falls far short of magic raised to about the 17th power. appeared under the auspices of
recognizing Clark's law — that what This they do. Starting in 1975 he was respectable publishers, that abductees
ETIs in advance of us can do should supplied with a very lengthy series of receive repeated attention from their
seem indistinguishable from magic to messages over a several year period abductors who seem to have their own
us, whether they are 200 years in whose main theme is spiritualism — strategies. Thus, we can now see that
advance or 200 thousand years or 200 reincarnation and evolution of the soul. contactees might also receive repeated
million years. This should apply to the This does not sit well with many UFO ETI attention, so that this sixth reason
fields of galactic transportation and investigators who seek hardware, not a probably no longer applies.
communication as well as to other fields spiritual message. It was therefore left up to lesser
of which we cannot conceive. Thus, the However, the Meier case is most known investigators, with the
possibility that advanced ETIs are not unique in that the amount of evidence exception of Wendelle Stevens, to
restricted in mobility by our present his contactors supplied him with, investigate the Meier case in depth. He
limitations of rocketry and relativity is mostly photographic, is much more published his findings in 1982 in an
much more plausible than not. That bountiful and of higher quality than investigative report of limited
UFOs could be their vehicles of travel anything seen heretofore. It was a new distribution. He could find no evidence
and refuge then becomes an obvious idea that a particular contactee of fraud, except by some who called
idea to explore, as the astrophysicist somewhere might be singled out and Meier a fraud. Stevens was therefore
Peter Sturrock of Stanford pointed out supplied with evidence by ETIs in order also discredited by the main UFO
in an article in the Quarterly Journal of to support their messages. Another organizations.
the Royal Astronomical Society (a idea t o t a l l y foreign to UFO A few years later an initially
British journal; 1978, pp. 521-523). investigators is that the ETI might have inexperienced UFO researcher, the
Unfortunately, his plea to bring the data a strategy of doing this in such a way investigative journalist Gary Kinder,
of the UFO organizations into action that the overall covertness of the UFO made an in-depth study of the Meier
has been ignored by astronomers, who phenomenon would be maintained until case for three years which culminated
5
the object a small model. It may be
pointed out that the occult
disappearance of UFO evidence is also
not new; as an example, several
different copies of a certain letter which
would have helped expose a UFO
coverup by the British government
were noted to have disappeared under
mysterious circumstances by Butler,
Street and Randies, authors of Sky
Crash.
The other occult aspect of this
photo case, besides Meier's
acknowlegement that these were
shots of a posing beamcraft purposely
allowed him, is that the contactor later
took the time to explain qualitatively to
Meier what had happened to the tree
(they had "changed its time").
On numerous occasions soon
after Meier had said he had had a
contact with one or more of the
in Light Veers. As Dennis Stacy points COMPARISON Pleiadeans, he and others could point
out, Kinder broke new ground as well to geometrically precise "landing
as treading old ground in having Since the occultness of reports patterns" in remote meadow grass or
experts in various fields reexamine from the Meier case is one reason it has oh snow near his contact point. These
some of the evidence. But again there been disparaged, let us briefly compare received much photography by Meier
was no sign of a hoax, no sign of its occultness with that of other UFO and others. Again this is too
accomplices, and no mechanical nor cases to see if there is much new. comonplace to dwell on here, except to
financial means uncovered for Meier to In at least two incidents in the note the most occult aspect described
have accomplished a hoax. Already, I Meier case, a tree too close to well in Kinder's book, regarding the
have heard Kinder labeled as Semjase's hovering beamcraft soon affected grass continuing to stay alive for
incompetent by UFO investigators for afterwards developed many dead months afterwards, but growing
having reached these conclusions. I branches next to where the craft had horizontally in a swirling pattern. The
would recommend that you read his been. This is so commonplace in the second occult aspect is that Meier
book and then decide for yourself if the UFO literature as to need no could ask Semjase how this could be,
case is not indeed worth the most substantiation here. However, in at and receive a qualitative answer (the
serious of studies. least one of these instances the grass' sense of direction of gravity had
The lesser known investigators, contactors (Pleiadeans) were said to been distorted by 90 degrees).
Lee and Brit Elders along with Thomas have later caused the tree to disappear On several, if not perhaps all, of
Welch, published their results in two without any indication left that it had Meier's beamship photography
volumes containing enlarged color ever existed. This is the fir tree in sessions, it appears that if Meier could
photos from Meier's daytime photo- Meier's photo series #55-57, 64-66, 69- photograph the craft then other Swiss
session contacts. They spent over 300 71 and 76, all taken on July 9, 1975, villagers in the general vicinity, or
days at the Meier farm house according to Meier's records. In this motorists on one occasion, should also
investigating the case, during some 16 series at least 5 of the photos show have noticed the craft or have been able
trips between Arizona and Switzerland indisputably that part of the hovering to photograph it. Again Meier received
over a 4-year period, and it seems object was either within the branches or an answer from Semjase to his question
unlikely that the sales from their two on the far side of the tree from the on this: they can render their generally
photo-albums have recouped their camera. invisible craft visible from any narrow
expenses. They have apparently also I asked two professors of forestry sector they wish. This is not a new
been dismissed by the main UFO at Oregon State University if this tree in thought, but one forced into existence
organizations for seeing reality in the the photos was at all identifiable; it did from other UFO-sighting cases, as
Meier case, for taking his spiritual not take them long to say it was discussed for example in the book by
message seriously, and for charging for definitely a mature Abies alba, or Randies and Warrington UFO Cases:
the sale of their photo-albums. European silver fir. (They had very little A British Viewpoint.
The reader need not be a student so say or ask about the saucer-shaped In some of Meier's movie-film
of psychology to recognize what object.) This indicates that the tree segments Semjase's beamcraft is seen
appears to be going on here! could not have been a model tree, nor to perform maneuvers involving
6
incredibly great accelerations for the
craft or any occupants. However, this
kind of behavior on the part of UFOs is
so commonplace that it was one of the
first occult aspects to which UFO
investigators had to become
accustomed.
On at least one of Meier's photo-
collection sessions, Semjase could
remotely control the basic operation of
his movie camera while Meier
concentrated on the use of his 35mm
camera. And on the April 14th, 1976
occasion when a Swiss Mirage jet made
22 successive passes at Semjase's
beamship, Meier reportedly learned
later from her that she had remotely
disabled the pilot's armaments and
camera. However, reports of
telekinesis have come out of numerous
UFO investigations, often involving the
continued motion or transport of an
automobile no longer under the control somehow being expressed in the native "automatic typing." As an apparent
of the driver whether or not its engine tongue of the contactee or abductee. result, his voluminous contact notes
was running (as in the book Sky The UFO organizations have by now are much more interesting reading than
Crash). mostly accepted this apparent fact as if they were merely later remembrances
truth despite its great occultness. Even or summaries of what had transpired.
SPIRITUAL THEME more occult, in many instances it is (Occasionally, Meier would note that
apparent that the UFO intelligences an item which they had discussed at a
Regarding the spiritual theme could read the mind of a witness and contact meeting had been censored out
which runs throughout the Meier case, respond almost instantaneously. This is of the later machine-telepathic
especially in Semjase's messages, the equivalent to inadvertent mental transmission. Meier's objections to
occurrence of such is again nothing telepathy directed from human to ETI. Semjase about this went unheeded; she
new although Semjase goes into much An aspect of the Meier case which is reserved the right to withhold various
greater depth than usual. In a much only a slightly further extension into the portions of their conversations from the
higher percentage of alleged contactee occult is that he claims to have been written record.) One may note that
cases than one would expect taught how to communicate numerous alleged contactees claim to
demographically, the message recipient telepathically at will with Pleiadeans have received their messages via
ends up discussing reincarnation as a with whom he became acquainted; automatic writing.
reality, regardless of his or her previous some of his two-way communication Meier's reported rides in Pleiadean
religious affiliation. Nevertheless, in sessions were ostensibly via telepathy beamships also should not be thought
almost all those cases the contactee and did not represent face-to-face of as new or preferential treatment;
had no evidence as substantial as meetings. Enoch of Old Testament days appears
photographs to back up his message. A related piece of occultness is to be one of the first contactees to have
Thus, a dedicated Christian, Moslem or that the Pleiadeans are said to be able to been so treated, judging from his books
Jew who does not believe in detect when or if any human is which never quite made it into the Bible.
reincarnation, or who believes in anywhere near their contact vehicle, Daniel Fry (see his book The White
resurrection, may be alarmed by the and able to ascertain the whereabouts Sands Incident) is but one example of a
Meier case and have strong incentive of a particular individual, such as the modern case of this nature which
for dismissing it or discussing only its contactee. This latter ability, however, predates the Meier affair. And, of
weak points. is common to many other contactees' course, there are the numerous
Meier's claimed ability to receive experiences. abductees who have been taken into
thoughts telepathically from his Also, the method by which Meier saucer craft against their will. Since
contactors, telling him where to travel would, a day or so after each contact Meier appears to have been on a
on his moped for a contact or photo session, record the word-by-word friendly basis (though not always so,
session for example, is again not new. conversations of the contact, was juding from his contact notes) with
This is the normal mode of ostensibly some form of machine- several different Pleiadeans, and
communication from UFO intelligences controlled telepathy. His recording of it treated almost as if he were one of
to humans, with language or thoughts was like "automatic writing" or them, it would be surprising if he had
7
not been treated to such travels. At the ruins at first glance is said to look just matter for themselves.) Kinder's book
(east, a saucer craft would be a like a photo of a painting within the gives ample reason why Spaulding's
convenient place to hold covert contact September, 1977, issue of GEO, a conclusions regarding UFO photos
meetings. German magazine. Discussions within should not be trusted. Another reason,
Meier's recordings indicate he his notes from contact #106 with however, is that Spaulding admitted in a
once had a case of pneumonia partially Quetzal, another Pleiadean, indicate letter to Flying Saucer Review (issue
cured during a contact session, and Meier's apparent consternation upon No. 5, 1985) that he believes the only
once had some broken ribs healed by a learning that this painting had pre-dated bona fide "saucers" are those
machine on Semjase's beamcraft. • his photo, and supply Quetzal's constructed secretly by governments
Again, this does not constitute unhead explanation which involved still more on earth.
of UFO occultness. Numerous UFO occultism. Third, many times after Meier
witnesses or contactees have attested loaned out photos and film, what he
to having had' various ailments cured MAGIC received back were apparently copies.
following a contact — even cancer. The specific generation of the print or
Several secondary witnesses in the Does all this seem like magic raised internegative placed at the disposal of
Meier case noted that he vanished from to the 17th power? I believe that it does, the investigator thus is not usually
their midst on : a'couple of occasions, and that occultism to some such degree c l e a r . This h a s d i s c o u r a g e d
apparently to attend contact meetings, must be expected if this comprehensive examination of even those aspects
and once he was observed to return in series of contacts were genuine. Yet which do not require the originals.'
the same manner. Again, this basic • • most of Meier's confrontations with the . . Fourth, Kal Korff, an 18-year-old
phenomenon is not entirely new for us, . occult 'do not represent phenomena youth at the time, discredited both
having occurred, apparently, in the unfamiliar to ufologists, but rather Meier and Stevens in his 1981 book The
Travis Walton case (see Abducted! by represent an unheard of amount of Meier Incident: The Most Infamous
Coral and Jim Lorenzen). Reports of exposure to'it by any one individual. Hoax in Ufology. Korff, accepted
UFO entities moving up or down a According to Hynek's "strangeness Spaulding's conclusions and made
beam of "solid light" seem to represent indeXi" the Meier case would rank at heavy use of ridicule, while >never once
a similar degree of occultness; see for the extreme in stangeness; without suggesting that Clarke's law should be
example Sky Crash. Meier's photographic evidence and kept in mind. In the Abies alba photo
Meier's main investigators, secondary witnesses to provide series already discussed, he implied
Wendelle Stevens and Lee & Brit credibility the case would receive little that the later disappearance of the tree
Elders, were occasionally at Meier's or no attention. Disparagers of the had not happened, further implying that
farmhouse when he went out for a case have therefore had to say a model tree had been used.
nighttime contact meeting. They once something about the photographic In the March 29,1976, series two of
noted soon afterwards that their evidence. the photos shown in the Elders' photo-
watches registered highly incorrect albums indicate that the craft was
times. Again, such a "disturbance in PAST DISCREDITING OF behind a limb of a deciduous tree.
time" is not a new phenomenon to hear MEIER'S PHOTOS However, Korff claimed from one of the
of accompanying a UFO event. same photos in his book that it was
However, Meier reported much more How were these photos belittled instead in front of the tree. He then
occult experiences, involving time, despite analyses by specialists called it a model UFO. However, in a
namely various forms of time travel. declaring that no signs of fraud could be 1981 article in Frontiers of Science,
One of his beamship trips, documented detected in.the photos examined? (March-April issue) he claimed the
later via extremely lenglhy contact First, those specialists who had same tree was a model tree. Yet we
notes, was said to occupy 5 days' time. done the examination of selected know from photos in the Elders' et al.
When Meier returned, his face showed prints, out of Meier's 700 or so photos photo album, Vol. 1, that the deciduous
an approximately 5-day growth of showing beamcraft, and unable to find tree in question was not a model, since
stubble, and he promptly slept for 26 fault, were simply declared inept. a photo of it a year and a half later by
hours. This was attested to by Second, at an early date William one of Stevens' investigative team
witnesses, and his having shaved the Spaulding of Ground Saucer Watch showed the same tree, this time in leaf.
morning he had departed was also had been given 10 of the Meier photos In Meier's close-up beamship
attested to. Yet, he was noted to have to analyze by a West German UFO photo, #6, the upper of three
been away for only one day. investigator. Spaulding decided they circumferential ribs girding the craft
On March 18, 1978, Meier were fakes, and claimed that they was described as uncannily resembling
allegedly was allowed to time-travel into involved suspended models, double a (braided) rope. Korff implied that it
the future to view and photograph the exposures, and the double print may have been a cow-bell rope.
ruins of San Francisco after a method. (The implausibility that a However, close inspection of the
devastating earthquake. This is one of hoaxist would use all three such diverse "rope" where its cross-section appears
the most occult, and most disputed, of methods should have alerted more at opposite edges of the craft discloses
his reports. His alleged photo of the serious investigators to look into the that it has rather square corners, unlike
8
a rope. embargo in the presence of leaks. The disappeared without trace. Such cries
Considerations such as these, plus absence of undisputed hard evidence must obviously be resisted, since
Korffs prolific use of innuendo rather from UFO sightings in general after occultism is to be expected, as is an
than unbiased observation, should forty years would fall into the same intelligent strategy on the part of any
have alerted other UFO investigators of category of explanation. ETIs in our vicinity.
the need for a comprehensive and The abductee phenomenon would One series of Meier's photos which
objective study of the Meier case. appear not to be part of a planned has been ridiculed shows him, and in
Instead, the heads of the UFO leaky-embargo strategy. It would one instance the arm of an alleged
organizations often referred to Korffs instead seem to represent independent Pleiadean (by the name of Alena)
book as reason why they needed to ETI behavior deemed sufficiently pointing a "ray gun" said to be a
take no interest in the case. innocuous by ETIs in charge of the museum piece of one of the colleagues
My own observations presented embargo as to require their taking no of Semjase. Meier was allowed to test
here might be declared biased by any corrective action, as long as the the weapon on July 6, 1977, near his
who adhere to the view that ETI cannot abductions do not cause any abrupt farmhouse during a contact when no
be in our vicinity and cannot be rupture in the embargo. one else was around. He burned a hole
strategically observing us. Admittedly, One of Meier's 8-mm movie-film completely through the trunk of an
this review is written from the segments (18 March, 1975) is clearly a apple tree, about 10 inches in diameter.
perspective that the in-proximity candidate for planned ambiguity on the This would not seem like unreasonable
school of thought regarding ETI is more part of the Pleiadeans. When some behavior for a contactee interested
plausible than the radio astronomers' Japanese UFO investigators viewed in guns, in alien technology, and on
school or the mankind-is-unique school this film, or a copy of it, at Meier's friendly terms with humanoid ETIs with
of thought. farmhouse, they saw the unknown whom he had become friends after 77
object circling within a nearly horizontal previous contacts since 1975.
AMBIGUITIES plane, with its closest point of approach However, a skeptic who cannot
once bringing it just behind the upper tolerate ETIs having a strategy
With the in-proximity school of tip of a fir tree. Each circle took only a involving a primary contactee similarly
thought, the ETIs, and most certainly few seconds. From the video views of cannot tolerate the possibility that such
those in charge of the "embargo" this film now available, however, the an event occurred.
against Earth, give high priority to viewer cannot be at all certain that it Silly arguments have therefore
maintaining the embargo until our had acutally passed behind the tree. If it been advanced why the guri depicted in
understanding of the situation has had instead been a suspended model , the pictures must be a fake,
increased substantially. With the leaky- close to the camera, then the circular notwithstanding the present existence
embargo hypothesis, equally high motion might be explained as simple of the hole in this tree, the photos Meier
priority is presumed given to their harmonic motion induced by motion of took of it soon afterwards showing
supplying gradual leaks in the embargo a supporting pole above the view of the charring around the hole but no wood
(UFO sightings and contactees) that camera. dust, and the difficulty of drilling a hole
would help increase our understanding However, on one of the apparent of this length through a tree by a man
but without disrupting the embargo. passes of the object past the top of the with only one arm. Nevertheless, since
This would mean t h a t in a tree, the tree's upper portion was seen the evidence is riot compelling it instead
comprehensive case accompanied by to make a sudden swerve along the seems incriminating to a biased skeptic,
extensive photographic evidence, at direction of travel of the craft, yet the entire episode would be
least some of the scenes might need to immediately followed by return to consistent with an ETI strategy of
be partially staged in a manner that normalcy. This indicates some kind of occasionally supplying ambiguous
would introduce some ambiguity. Then action of the craft upon the tree which evidence chiefly for the "benefit" of
skeptics who are mentally unprepared would rule out the model theory, as the skeptics.
to acknowledge the plausibility of the in- tree was again no model. However, the Ambiguities seem to have been
proximity school of thought would not m o t i o n of the t r e e seems built into the messages Meier received
be "forced" into new thought patterns incomprehensible, suggesting some too, as if failure to do this might cause a
by the sheer weight of evidence. action of occult ETI technology upon it. premature rupture of the embargo
They could instead cry "hoax" A biased skeptic might call this a "copy- against Earth. That is, parts of the
without undue embarrassment, out," and insist that photographic messages relating to science and
directing attention to suspicious evidence be rejected which involves ancient history seem to involve
looking scenes while ignoring the incomprehensible action of any object absurdities, just as most alleged
others. This neutral level of ethical additional to the UFO. contactee messages seem to contain
behavior on the part of the ETIs The same cry for inadmissibility absurdities. An unknown fraction of the
carrying out the embargo would be has been made regarding the series of apparent absurdities, however, may
consistent with likely ethical reasons for photographs showing the beamcraft instead constitute science or truths
their maintaining an embargo in the first posing around various sides of the which will only become evident to our
place. It would also help maintain the Abies alba tree because it later occultly descendants of the distant future. In
addition, there may be other motivation much more. extensive investigations, the evidence and secondary witnesses
why ETIs interacting with Earth would and for treating Meier as an honest carefully and form our best estimates of
not act in an entirely truthful manner. It reporter unless it can be proven the odds that Meier and assumed
would cause us to question all parts of otherwise beyond reasonable doubt. accomplices could have successfully
any given message, accepting none of it We must learn to put ourselves in his fabricated this evidence. We could
on faith. This in turn wpuld tend to shoes and ask what we would have inquire into what motivations he might
cause those who appreciate the done in his stead, if we had been have had for so doing, and for persisting
spiritual content of the message not to exposed since childhood to an to this day, if other than to disseminate
get carried away and turn it into a new appealing ETI philosophy and had an ETI spiritual message. We could
religion, nor to worship these ETIs as agreed to publicly disseminate it. examine his lengthy series of messages
gods. According to Meier's contact Because of the ambiguities carefully to see what the most
notes, the Pleiadeans do not wish this to apparently built into some of the Meier trustworthy essence of it seems to be.
happen. evidence, we must examine all the I think we should do all these things
evidence, not just that fraction which and more. However, in final analysis it
SUMMARY AND PROGNOSIS may look suspicious to diehard seems likely that if Meier represents a
skeptics. Haven't we learned by now to prime ETI contactee in a strategy
An entirely new attitude is needed be skeptical of skeptics who claim, for designed to maintain covertness for a
for analysis of. the Meier contactee example, that a low soaring object the while, that strategy will continue to
case. It needs to be viewed from the size of a football field moving slowly succeed. The Meier case, as a prime
outlook that ETIs in our proximity likely along at dusk without making noise is leak in the embargo, will not turn into a
exist and likely possess a strategy for just a tight formation of powered hang rupture of the embargo unless or until
dealing with an emerging civilization. gliders whose pilots and airfield cannot we learn for ourselves what our rightful
We must cease accusing experts who be ascertained? We must be especially place is as thinking beings within a
examine Meier's evidence and find no skeptical of skeptics who may have one galaxy and universe which may be
sign of a hoax of being incompetent on or more non-scientific reasons for heavily populated with other thinking
that account. Instead, we need to wishing a particular case to be a hoax. beings.
accept these findings as the basis for At the least, we could examine all
MJ-12 DOCUMENTS
documents. I went down to the desk at Th* President has*4e«Uad that tb» XI-IS JSP brl«flne
ground level, signed out and left. Again shoold take place dartnr tb« already schjodnlod Milt* Itouie
•»«ilAC of Joly 16, rntbvr than fallowing it u prvrixraaly
not so much as a look at my envelope. latnded. More prods* arrnn(«n<Bti vlll b* axplalaad to
jva Boon arrlvnl. Ploaao alter your plnni aoeordlnelr.
So much for massive security! It would Tour ooncumnee In the abort chance of arran;«nar.ts
have been easy, had I been so inclined, la assrcod.
to plant a single page hidden on my
person into a folder. The last I heard the
National Archives was not doing a strip ROBERT CUTLER
Special Aaslitaat
search of every patron! to the Pr«5t<!<nt
Reese had admitted that there was
no way to prevent some "seeding" or
thefts, that they just didn't have that
kind of security. A recent news story
revealed the theft of historic documents
from the Archives by an art historian,
something Reese told me about well
before it ever became news.
MSF's press release of June llth
makes several interesting comments.
Acknowledging that they are not in a
position to endorse the authenticity of
the documents, MSF say, nevertheless,
that they appear to be genuine and that
"nothing has surfaced' during the found at the Archives but was nothing information is, by their words, far more
course of our research which would more than an emergency war plan sensational than what has already been
seem to suggest otherwise." They also drafted in 1952. No connection to MJ- released. MSF wants a scientific
state that a "detailed and exhaustive 12 is at all evident. investigation into MJ-12, but have yet to
study" has been underway since : MSF's sole support from an expert open the book fully on what
December 1984. . • ''-.. at the National Archives was a quote in broadcaster Paul Harvey calls the "rest
In that two-year study how is it'that the London Observer by archivist Jo of the story." Where are those
MSF managed to avoid the negative Ann Williamson on May 31,1987 (MSF photographs and video tape? Why
comments of various agencies and Press Release, June 11, 1987, pg.3), haven't recent press releases by MSF
libraries relative to the authenticity of when the story was forced into the discussed the "MJ-5" memo and the
MJ-12?'Trie Truman and Eisenhower spotlight by Timothy Good's new book Aquarius report? Where is the
libraries would be among the first Above Top Secret. This support did not President Carter briefing paper? Let us
sources to contact since the' key . develop during the two-year study but hear a little more about "EBEs" and the
d o c u m e n t s came, from those only after it hit the press. And, as slim as "Highs?" We know MSF have this
administrations. Either MSF contacted it was, it was demolished by Williamson information and it certainly would be a
those sources, received positive herself in the July 22, 1987, National revelation if what we hear about these
replies, and for some strange reason Archives MJ-12 disclaimer. things turns out to be true. Why are
are withholding results that would help It would now be a good idea for MSF playing "Project Blue Book" and
prove their case, or MSF received MSF to publish all the evidence of the not releasing the beef?
negative replies and, as such, are exhaustive, two-year study, which they
misinforming the public in their press claim totally supports MJ-12, very soon DISTURBING REVELATION
release that notfiing was found casting as the story is under considerable
doubt on the affair. Or MSF did not assault. Now that we know the MJ-12 story
contact them at all, layingwaste to their It is also time to see the additional is severely flawed, what is the source of
claim of a detailed and exhaustive study portion of MSF's information; the this information? Since MSF aren't
over two years. things that they have publicly stated as talking about their sources, we've
Actually a "Majestic" project was having in hand relative to MJ-12. This discovered several things which we
15
think point in the right direction. investigation of the 1980 Kirtland AFB, there! But in any argument about the
• In 1984, Linda Moulton Howe, who N.M., UFO sightings and the two incident, it must beconc/usiue/y proven
produced the well-known cattle maintained contact thereafter. that a "spaceship" with aliens, or
mutilation film Strange Harvest, was Consider also that. William Moore whatever, came down.
contacted by a government source to has been associated with Doty from the Therefore, we do not regard the
aid introducing a UFO documentary, time after the original Kirtland sightings MSF documents as convincing proof of
essentially providing an answer to in 1980. Doty's home base, Kirtland, is the MJ-12 group or the Roswell crash.
UFOs. She was invited by the source, noted several times in the various MSF There are too many hard questions
briefed on the story, then sworn to papers. Doty knew details of of MJ-12 which haven't been .answered
secrecy about it until the film's eventual before the December 1984 receipt by effectively and MSF's explanations, or
release. The deal was never completed. MSF of the newly-publicized papers, as in some cases excuses, are nowhere
Details of the story given to her match evidenced above. Doty was the OSI near being decisive. Friedman has used
the MJ-12 tale, along with much extra agent on duty at Ellsworth AFB, South the phrase, "Absence of evidence is not
detail about contacts with "EBEs" (see Dakota during the period of the. evidence of absence!" in his defense of
MJ-12 Briefing Paper), Nordic-style November 1977, Ellsworth hoaxed MJ-12. But neither is it proof of
aliens called "Highs" and. conflicting Incident Report in which UFO aliens existence!"
alien factions. were said to have engaged in a gun To us, MJ;12 is a case of, "You've
• In March 1986, UFO lecturer and battle with Ellsworth security guards. got to believe it to see it!"
researcher Robert Hastings visited with This from Doty himself to Peter
Dr. Paul Bennewitz of the Kirtland 1980 Gersten in 1983. ® 1987 Just Cause
sightings (see Clear Intent, Epilog) at Question: Is Richard Doty Moore's
his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, source for much of the information we (Postscript: Acknowledgements go to
very close to Kirtland, AFB. During the are now seeing? We think it is a virtual Peter Gersten, Robert Todd, Robert
interview Hastings reported that certainty! Hastings, William Steinman, John
Bennewitz .used the phrase We are also convinced of Doty's Lear, Jim Melesciuc, Peter Geremia,
"Extraterrestrial Biological Entities" to involvement ,in the notorious "Craig Dr. David Jacobs and Marge
describe the aliens in his UFO activities. Weitzel" hoax letter, which we can Christensen for valuable comments
The. phrase is identical to the MJ-12 discuss sometime in the future. and assistence.) ,'.-.. .
Briefing Paper's description of aliens As a result of all this, we are now
and came a full year before the public forced to reassess the credibility of the
release of the MSF papers. How did Lawrence Fawcett and Barry J. Greenwood
now-famous OSI report on the 1980
Bennewitz know this phrase without Kirtland UFO sightings, authored in
having been told by someone? party by Doty. We-had reproduced this
• CAUS'Director, Peter Gersten, in as a late entry in Clear Intent (Epilog).
a visit with a military intelligence source
at Kirtland AFB in 1983, was informed
of a wide range of bizarre UFO stories.
Included were comments on a.briefing
FINAL WORP
The following paper was read and gravitational interactions in the One result was that there indeed
by Dr. H. Theodore Auerbach, vicinity of UFOs. exist unified field theories of matter
MUFON's representative for • 552 cases of strange behavior of and gravitation able to provide at least a
Switzerland, at the MUFON animals. qualitative answer to these questions.
International Meeting in London, • 350 cases of different types of This implies that from an astrophysical
July 13, 1987. Mr. Von Ludwiger UFOs. viewpoint the e x t r a t e r r e s t r i a l
is MUFON-CES director. • 150 psychological effects. hypothesis can no longer be excluded,
• 128 solid light cases. provided the theories mentioned are
The German speaking group • 85 cases of UFOs accompanied verified by experiments on elementary
MUFON Central European Section, by intense light emission. particles.
MUFON-CES for short was founded in • 117 UFOs observed by We also tried to find answers to
1975. It now numbers about 40 active astronomers. problems of historical interest, such as:
members in Germany, Switzerland, • Can one find a technical
and Austria. Membership is by SOLID OBJECT interpretation of the "air wars"
invitation only and presently consists of mentioned in old Indian manuscripts?
15 physicists and mathematicians, 11 N e x t , we a n a l y z e d the • Do Sumerian writings contain
engineers, and 13 astronomers, phenomenological spectrum of reports on extraterrestrial visitors?
biologists, chemists, medical doctors, sightings and reached the conclusion • Are UFOs shown in illustrations
and other scientifically trained that a solid object, interacting of medieval single leaf printings?
individuals from 10 universities and physically with its surroundings, is at • How frequent were UFO
from industry. the core of the UFO phenomenon. sightings in the 17th, 18th and 19th
Our chief aim is to raise the Luminous phenomena like ball centuries? (1976, 1983)
discussion of UFOs to a level of serious lightning, will-o'-the-wisps, and • What were the "foo-fighters" of
scientific inquiry. For this purpose it is paranormal light effects on the one World War II? (1978)
necessary to get other scientists hand, and CE-IV experiences and These investigations reveal that
interested in the topic. We do not psychological projections according to objects, whose characteristics were
officially engage in public information, C.G. Jung on the other are borderline similar to those of today's unidentified
since this activity is carried out by other cases which should be attributed to light phenomena already were
groups in our countries. UFOs o n l y a f t e r t h o r o u g h observed in the 17th century (1976).
The papers presented at our investigation. Accordingly, we have However, sightings were fewer in
annual meetings are worked out in concentrated our efforts on the number than those of will-o'-the-wisps
detail and published in the form of physical aspects of the phenomenon and paranormal light phenomena.
proceedings, each volume containing and less on the psychological reaction We carefully analyzed once again a
some 200-500 pages. Altogether we of witnesses. sample containing 17% of the Blue Book
have published more than 2700 pages of Theoretical studies were carried material (1981) and came to the
text in German so far. In addition, out for the purpose, among other conclusion that the reports were clearly
members give public talks and write things, of finding answers to questions distorted by the generally prejudiced
articles and books on an individual such as: attitude prevalent among investigators.
basis. • What physical mechanism can All documents are, characterized by
UFOs should be analyzed from lead to the extreme brightness in the air lack of carefulness, lack of familiarity
both physical and psychological points surrounding UFOs? (1977, 1983) with scientific methodology, and by
of view, but only the physical • Is it possible for laser or particle improper application of statistics. The
examination can be conducted in an beams to produce solid light? (1978) number of case histories remaining
objective manner free from • Does today's physics allow the unevaluated due to allegedly
contradictions. Unfortunately, among generation of antigravity? (1975, 1983) insufficient information is five times as
the more than 50 UFO sightings invest- • Is it theoretically possible for great as the number of objects claimed
igated by us so far there were hardly any solid objects to appear and disappear? to be unidentifiable. The material is well
electromagnetic cases. In a first step we (1978) suited for not confirming any
searched the available literature and set • Which physical theories permit hypothesis.
up special data catalogs, comprising: the displacement of objects between
• 1319 cases of electromagnetic widely separated points? (1978) SOVIET DATA
19
Through various channels we were made for an automatic registration of product of scientific considerations. A
able to secure about 600 manuscript UFOs (1981). A number of reliability procedure may be termed unscientific
pages of Russian Samisdat material 'studies were concerned with data or pseudoscientific only if the method
about UFO sightings and theories, evaluation and the credibility of employed is wrong, not merely because
including full names and addresses of witnesses. The following topics were it is applied to "strange" phenomena,
witnesses. The most interesting reports investigated: such as UFOs.
were translated by us into German and • The value of psychological tests At present we are engaged in
published in our conference reports for obtaining objective statements from completing the tenth MUFON-CES
(1981). The documentation shows that witnesses. conference report and in various other
EM-cases, CE-III events, and abduction • Methods of photoarialysis for the activities, including the analysis of UFO
cases with hypnotic regression occur in discovery of hoaxes (1976). case histories with the aid of IBM PC's
the USSR, too. • Possibilities and limitations of personal computers and an H.P. 9000
In contrast to witnesses in the hypnotic regression as a source of computer with colored, real-time
West, Russians seem to be less information. graphics, the investigation of an
concerned about ridicule than they are New methods of checking on the abduction and solid light case in
about being questioned by the secret reliability of witnesses. . Germany, and the setting up of a
police. It might be mentioned that the • The psychological effects of a consistent terminology for the most
Petfosawodsk sighting in 1977 cannot culture shock initiated by sudden frequent UFO types.
be interpreted as a rocket launched at contacts, as demonstrated by the A number of abduction witnesses
about that time in Plesetsk, 125 miles example of the Melanesians and await being questioned under hypnosis.
away, as James Oberg has contended, Tasadays. Unfortunately, the medical hypnotist
because the phenomenon was Throughout our work we have and head of a clinic with whose help we
observed for 5 minutes under a low emphasized the application of scientific investigated the CE-III case of
cloud ceiling. methods of investigation. We could Langenargen (1977) is no longer at our
In a medical study, physiological demonstrate the correctness of these disposal due to chronic lack of time.
and psychological effects of UFO methods when they were applied to the Lack of time of our members is, in fact,
radiation were compared to those of interrogation of witnesses and to the the main obstacle in our research. It
electromagnetic irradiation. Statistical theoretical treatment of problems. also is the reason for my failure to be
methods for electronic data analysis Criticism by sceptics is, in general, personally present at this meeting. Best
were developed and suggestions were psychologically motivated and not the regards to all MUFON members.
22
UFOs: 1947-1987 REVIEWED
By Dennis Stacy
This review originally appeared Sweden, and of course the United reading, "recommended," or "an
in "California UFO," 6 issues, $15, States. Contributions from China, important regional study." An index
1800 S. Robertson Blvd., #355, LA, Japan, the Middle East, and certain would have been an added delight, but
CA, 90035. Third World countries would have been its absence is hard to quibble about in
appreciated, but the editors are to be light of the overall project and the fact
Lovers of the odd and unusual congratulated for ranging as far afield as that separate articles are arranged by
have long relished the lively, and often they did, given the budget and deadline subject matter in a more or less
as not, irreverent Fortean Times of considerations under which they had to chronological and comprehensive table
London, co-edited by Bob Rickard and work. of topics.
Paul Sieveking. A graphically illustrated As it is, readers will find the time Under "The Phenomena," for
journal of all things anomalous, from and expense of searching out a copy example, one finds sections about
spontaneous human combustion and worth the effort. There is much here UFOs before 1947, UFOs and the
"Nessie," to UFOs and toads that one would not normally expect to African tribal system, UFOs as a global
entombed in stone, the Times takes it find between two covers, and for the phenomenon, UFOs in the Soviet
name from the iconoclastic American most part the attention to detail and Union, UFO occupants, contactees
collector of same, Charles Fort (1874- quality is what we've come to expect and abductions, and so on. "Assessing
1932). from Fort's heir apparents. The volume the Phenomena" deals with how to
The tightly-packed quarterly has itself is what we would call a trade-size, investigate UFOs, how to define UFOs,
earned a reputation for its mordant, quality paperback, with stiff, glossy physical traces, effects on humans,
bordering on black, humor, an covers, front and back, depicting a radar returns, witnesses and related
encyclopedic reach of subject matter, colorful variety of other UFO book and topics. The various hypotheses put
meticulous attention to annotation (and journal covers that have appeared over forth to explain UFOs in all their myriad
attribution for credit where's it due), the last forty years. manifestations are treated in a third
and a list of regular contributors that Many of the contributors will section. Here one encounters Swedish
reads like a Who's Who of Fortean already be well known to American "ghost rockets," extraterrestrials,
phenomena, or forteana, for short. readers, including John Keel on the ufaraterrestrials, so-called "spook-
Last summer the dynamic duo Maury Island caper, Jacques Vallee on lights," an analysis of theoretical UFO-
behind the Times ventured into the use of computers, Leonard propulsion systems, "space critters,"
fullscale book publishing, and for most Stringfield on crash/retrievals, and and all other sorts of "explanations"
of us the results couldn't be more others. Others may already be familiar offered over the last four decades and
felicitous. The new imprint is called with English ufologists like Jenny beyond. At the very least, one comes
Fortean Tomes, and its first publication Randies and John Rimmer, editor of away well educated to the realization
is a mammoth collection (384 pages of Magonia. Editor Evans contributes that we are no longer talking about the
closely packed print and pictures) several pieces himself, including an simple "daylight discs" and "nocturnal
containing more than 50 essays on introduction, and fills in where lights" of years past.
virtually every aspect of the UFO someone else probably missed a Section five, "UFOs and Society,"
phenomenon imaginable, from its deadline. looks at the psychological and social
worldwide scope to its implications for The result is a compendium of implications inspired by the UFO
both individuals and society. approaches and viewpoints that phenomenon, including pieces on
Designed to commemorate manages to avoid leaning too heavily in UFOs and scientists, UFO cults,
Kenneth Arnold's "first-of-its-kind" favor of any one editorial philosophy. comparisons with religious folklore,
1947 sighting, the book has been Writers, chosen for their expertise in a and even UFOs in the cinema.
dubbed UFOs 1947-1987: The 40-Year particular area, are simply allowed to Selecting "favorite" selections
Search for an Explanation. Compiled have their say. Contents are divided from the above would be an exercise in
and edited by Hilary Evans (with John into five major sections, covering UFO futility. Suffice it to say, to coin a cliche,
Spencer) for BUFORA, the British phenomena, assessment of same, that there is something here for
UFO Research Association, UFOs is a explanations, social implications, and everyone. The first of the Fortean
truly international compilation, with the role of skepticism. Appendices Tomes (at least a half dozen volumes on
contributors weighing in from Poland, include a list of current international different subjects are in the immediate
France, the United Kingdom, Canada, UFO organizations and books about (continued on page 22)
Zimbabwe, Spain, Belgium, Australia, UFOs, rated as either "essential"
23
DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE
by
Walt Andrus
The MUFON Board of Directors receiving copies of the Field Investiga- enclosed in the MUFON UFO
and Staff take this opportunity to tor's Examination to administer to their JOURNAL. The term of the new Board
convey Season's Greetings to our members, attached to a cover sheet of Member will be 4 years. (State
members throughout the world by instructions, and a blank answer sheet. Directors are eligible and may nominate
wishing each and everyone a Merry Mrs. Shirley A. Coyne, 73 Borman, themselves if they so desire.)
Christmas and a Happy New Year. Flushing, MI 48433-9239 will grade all Npminations are now being accepted.
While we are celebrating the conclusion examinations and submit the results to Edward F. Mazur, State Director
of a memorable year in Ufology, our the individual, the State Director and for Arkansas, has nominated Bill Pitts,
monthly magazine, the MUFON UFO MUFON headquarters. former State Director for Arkansas and
JOURNAL (formerly SKYLOOK) The M U F O N 1988 UFO presently a State Section Director for
observed its 20th anniversary of Symposium will be held on June 24, 25 the above post. Mr. Pitts was the
publication during Septmeber 1987. and 26, 1988 at the Nebraska Center sponsor and chairman of the very
This is a tribute to Norma E. Short and Hotel, University of Nebraska in successful Fort Smith (Arkansas) UFO
the dedicated editors who followed in Lincoln, hosted by MUFON of Conference held in 1975. Please give
her footsteps, elevating the publication Nebraska. Ray W. Boeche and Scott this matter serious thought and advise
into the finest monthly UFO magazine Colburn will chair the host committee. your State Director.
in the world. Walt Andrus, in conjunction with the * **
Several State Section Directors host committee, has started extending The Fund for UFO Research, host
have been reassigned to new counties invitations to the featured speakers. for the recent MUFON 1987
after changing their residences.Ralph Special hotel rates for the symposium International UFO Symposium held on
Savarese, a retired Methodist will be $35 for single occupancy and $38 campus at The American University in
Minister, is now responsible for for double occupancy plus tax per Washington, DC, has a variety of
Harrison, Jackson and Hancock night. The Nebraska Center will hold 90 important publications, books, video
Counties in Mississippi; Jack Poor- double hotel rooms for symposium tapes (VHS or Beta), audio tapes of the
bough, living in Jensen Beach, Florida, has participants. Should additional housing symposium speakers and research
been assigned to St. Lucie and Martin accomodations be required, they can papers that are available for purchase.
Counties; Norma J. White, formerly arrange for overflow in adjacent Please request "Reply Form 2Q87" for
living in West Virginia, is the new hotel/motel properties. this extensive list by writing to: Fund for
Section Director for Wicomico, With the promotion of Dan UFO Research, P.O. Box 277, Mt.
Worcester and Somerset Counties in Wright to Deputy Director of Rainier, MD 20712.
Maryland; and Don Mason, former Investigations on the MUFON The Fund for UFO Research has
State Director for Idaho, has returned Executive Committee, a vacancy now only two sources of income to support
to the U.S.A. from Canada to accept exists for Central Regional Director on its activities: contributions and sales of
the position of State Section Director the MUFON Board of Directors. Dan documents and other educational
for Ada, Boise, Canyon, Elmore will continue to fill the position of materials. Contributions to the Fund
Fayette and Gem Counties in Idaho. Investigative Coordinator in his new are 100% tax deductible; the price of
John Lear, State Director for capacity. An election will be conducted documents is 50% tax deductible.
Nevada, has appointed Morgan in early 1988 to elect a Central Regional The MUFON 1987 International
Clements as the new State Section Director by the members in the Central UFO Symposium Proceedings (222
Director for Lincoln and Nye Counties. States, composed of the following pages) is available from MUFON for
Mrs. Judith M. Diliberto has states: ND, SD, NE, KS, OK, TX, MN, $15 plus $1.50 for postage and handling.
recommended that Kevin Lammens IA, MO, AR, LA, WI, IL, IN, MI, KY, It contains all of the papers presented
of Babylon, New York replace her as TN, AL and OH. Any current members by the featured speakers that were
State Section Director for Suffolk desiring to be a candidate should received before the proceedings went
County on Long Island. Kenneth contact your State Director so that to press on June 1,1987. The theme is:
Ring, Ph. D., a professor at the he/she may submit your name in " I n t e r n a t i o n a l Symposium on
University of Connecticut, has nomination. All candidates names must Unidentified Aerial Phenomena: 1947-
accepted the position of Consultant in be received by MUFON headquarters 1987." Stanton T. Friedman's
Psychology. by January 30,1988. A primary election symposium paper titled "Canadian
* ** will be held if over six candidates are (continued on page 22)
State Directors have been nominated with the ballots being