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On July 22nd 1985, two BAE Hawk was in a steady climb. I could see the
MK 60's were scrambled by the object through the cockpit window and
Zimbabwe Air Force from Thornhill Air had very good visibility. The object
Force Base, Gweru, to investigate a appeared to maintain its distance, but
"bright flying object" over Bulawayo had very fast acceleration at a high
Airport. altitude before disappearing. It was a
According < to the report which bright orange in colour and appeared
appeared in The Herald newspaper on star-like in shape but was "too far away
August 2nd, Commander of the to determine exactly. It moved off in an
Zimbabwe Air Force, Air Marshall easterly direction at a very high speed.'
Azim Daudpota said, "This was no Cordy-Hedge estimated that the object
ordinary unidentified flying object. Even had moved from 15,000 ft to 80-10,000
the two fighter pilots had visual contact ft.
with it over Bulawayo." T.R. Van Rooyen gave a similar
The object, orange in colour in report: he too saw the object through
some reports, was sighted first over his cockpit canopy and the visibility was
Beit Bridge (the border post between good. He, together with Cordy-Hedge,
South Africa and Zimbabwe) then in said the observation lasted for 50
Gwanda, West Nicholson and ft. Air traffic at Bulawayo Airport was minutes. The object appeared as a
Plumtree, all within Zimbabwe. It was delayed for several hours while the jets bright star, initially orange, but of an
last seen from the Bulawayo Airport were investigating. indefinable shape. It disappeared in an
Control Tower. One of my investigators in South easterly direction at a high speed.
Unfortunately, the radar at the Africa, Giep Barnard, spoke to Mr. van He estimated the altitude of the object
Met. office in Bulawayo had been der Riet of CSIR (Council for Scientific to go from 15,000 ft. to 100,000 ft.
dismantled for servicing and was not and Industrial Research) and he said,
working, although according to Group "Supposing a stationary object is in a ACTION TAKEN
Capt. Sykes of the Zimbabwe Air position of say, 10 km altitude, the view
Force, it was the fact that the object to an observer in an aircraft I flew down to Bulawayo, which is
was picked up on radar that convinced approaching at a height of approx. 2 some 530 km from Harare, and spoke
the Air Force of its reality. km, would be that of an ascending to N.I. Bull who was the Met officer on
object. Depending of course, on the duty at the time of the incident. He had
NO BALLOON? actual altitudes of both object and written to me in replay to my queries
observer, speed of observer, distances regarding the UFO and I report some of
"This immediately rules out that it between observer and object, this the significant portions of his letter. He
could have been a balloon," said the theory could hold true and as such an said that the previous day, i.e. 21st July,
Group Capt. "Besides which," he illusion of a rapidly rising object would he had picked up several reports of the
added, "checks were made with the be created to the viewer." object being seen over Beit Bridge,
Met office who confirmed that no Plumtree, etc. No-one seems to know
weather balloons had been launched at TWO PILOTS what it was but he took the precaution
that time." of alerting the Zimbabwe Air Force at
Subsequently, I spoke to Air The two pilots involved were C. Thornhill. He also heard that the South
Commodore Dave Thorne, also of the Cordy-Hedge and T.R. Van Rooyen. African Air Force had sent up two of
ZAF and he felt this was a genuine Both men were 25 years of age. Cordy- their fighters to investigate but they
"unidentified flying object." The Air Hedge had 1800 flight hours to his through the object was a high altitude
Commodore told me that the two jets credit and T.R. Van Rooyen, 1500 research balloon and way above the
were scrambled at 17:45 and were hours. ceiling of the aircraft.
directed to the object which was Cordy-Hedge wrote: The object On the 22nd July, Bull had seen the
hovering over Bulawayo at about 7,000 was sighted on the 22nd July, 1985, at object almost due south of the airfield at
ft. But as the aircraft approached, the an altitude of 4,500 ft. The weather was an elevation of 30°. Through binoculars
object shot up at a great rate of knots "dusk-cavok." It seemed to be approx.
(approx. 2,300 kph) to approx. 70,000 15 miles S.E. of Bulawayo. The aircraft (continued next page)
Gweru
^o'Bulawayo
da
cholfeon
Blbemfontein o
AFRICAN, Continued levels up to this height were not 1983, there had been a UFO over Rio de
descriptive of the motion of the object. Janiero in Brazil, with hundreds of
it appeared spherical and was quite witnesses. The. Brazilian government
bright and could have been a balloon WINE GLASS eventually issued a statement saying
coated with some sort of metallic that the UFO had been a South
reflecting material. Referring to various At this, juncture, I had taken a A f r i c a n weather balloon. Irene
reports he was able to calculate that the UFO-INTERNATIONAL WEEK Stand Granchi, a leading UFO investigator in
object was between 70,000 and 140,000 at the .Harare Show and was Brazil, had asked me to look into the
ft. up. :He heard the Hawk jets pass approached by two young men from matter.
overhead and a few minutes later the Falcon College (just outside Bulawayo). I was friendly with a South African
object seemed to disappear from view. They had seen the object through a Opposition Member of Parliament who
All this happened at dusk and telescope and the one described it to was sympathetic to the UFO
Zimbabwe being close to the equator, me as disc-like at the top with a trailing phenomenon and had, in fact, asked
there is hardly any.twilight. It is possible object beneath. He thought it might be questions in the South African
that the sun illuminated the object and a weather balloon. At the same time, Parliament about the matter. I
when it sank below the horizon, the Maria Sullivan, one of my .UFO group in contacted him to find out if indeed this
object could no longer be seen. Harare, told me that Mike Williams of could be true. He came back shortly
There was no radar working at Plumtree School had said that two of afterwards to tell me that the CSIR
Bulawayo at the time as the Met office their teachers had spotted the object were involved with a French Space
radar was being serviced. The Met and described it as being "like an Agency — Centre National d'Etudes
office balloons are lost between 45,000 inverted wine-glass." Spatiales — who were based just
and 60,000 ft. and there were none up at This description immediately rang
the time. But the wind patterns at high a bell in my mind. On October 31st, (continued next page)
THE REPORTS
On 20 August 1985, Norman E. the next morning Charlie M. took him appeared larger, rather than smaller, as
Hill, a 43-year old resident of Pensacola, to the sighting area deep into St. Joe it rose up until it looked about seven
FL, called to tell me about a 1977 UFO Paper Company property. Then times larger than the moon. Within five
sighting. He got my phone number from Norman continued to Bristol. minutes it rose to the base of thin
an article about MUFON in the 19 moonlit cirrus and departed to the east.
August Pensacola News Journal. He ENGINE STALLS He thinks the closest he saw it was
reported a small salmon-pink light that about 1500 feet. However, there is little
rose from the woods and transformed, On 12 January, while enroute back basis to determine actual size or
through a transparent stage, into a to Pensacola, he detoured 7 miles north distance. After it departed he drove
metallic-gold, Saturn-shaped object on FL 267, turned east on Sudberry around and sat in the woods for over
with red, blue and green lights around road and continued on the sand road two hours and saw nothing else.
the perimeter. into the paper company woods Charlie
The object appeared to increase in M. had shown him. After about a mile TEACHER
size as it ascended. Also reported were his 1972 VW stalled. It would not
E/M effects, sound distortion, mental restart, although the starter and lights Norman has a BS in Biology and
communication, chest, and head operated normally. It was. 8:00 PM, Physical Science from Florida State
tightness, skin vibrations, and a deep almost two hours after sunset. University, and, through a National
cold feeling. Our first meeting was an He saw spires of soft white light Science Foundation grant, became
interview in his home on 3 Sep 85, when come from behind the trees to the qualified to teach high school Physics
Forms 1, 3, and 5 were completed. His south. He got out of the car, and when and Chemistry. He taught in St.
parents were present and seem the door shut, it sounded unusually Petersburg until March 1976, and is
convinced he is reporting accurately, loud, "like a shotgun blast." He spoke, now employed by an industrial security
although they were skeptical for about and his voice "reverberated" and was firm. Following this sighting, he
two weeks in 1977. Then on 18 very loud. He heard footsteps come reported it to Tyndal AFB. Various
October, he drove to Ft. Walton Beach through the woods from the direction of officers showed little interest, and a
and accompanied me to the sighting the light spires, but could see no one. Colonel gave him Dr. Hynek's CUFOS
area. His story follows. The footsteps moved behind him address. He wrote Dr. Hynek a letter
through the car lights, but he could still on 23 Jan 77, but got no reply.
COMPULSION see no one. During the next four months, he
Soon a bright pinkish-orange ball returned to the site five times and
Late on 9 January 1977, Norman of light rose slowly from behind the claims to have seen a UFO three times.
Hill was driving from Pensacola to St. trees where the white light was. There One was a high fly-by one month later.
Petersburg where he had an was a stuffy, tight feeling in his head and Two months later he was alone and said
appointment with a realtor the next chest, and a deep cold sensation in his he saw the reverse of his original
afternoon. As he passed through body. As the light rose up, its brightness sighting. A Saturn-shaped object with
Bristol, on highway 20, he saw a sign for went down and a transparent Saturn- lights around the perimeter
Ora's restaurant, and he felt a shaped object (larger on top) started transformed to a bright ball while
compulsion to go there even though he forming around the bright center. descending toward the woods and
was not hungry and it was off the When fully formed, the central light was finally disappeared behind the trees.
highway. About two miles past the gone, and the object looked solid Then on 1 May he and a friend saw an
turnoff he turned around, went there, metallic-gold with red, blue and green unidentified night light there. He
and for some unknown reason asked lights around the perimeter. blinked the car lights three times and it
the owners if any UFOs had been seen The cold sensation continued, and also blinked three times.
in the area. The couple that owned the "vibrations" played over his body and Norman claims to have more than
restaurant looked at each other, caused a slight euphoria. He said, "I his share of ESP, and before his divorce
astonished, and said yes. asked the question where this object in 1972 e x p e r i e n c e d p s y c h i c
Although it was nearly 11:00 PM was from, and received a very communication with his wife. He said
and closing time, they brought a mechanical sensation in the head and a his psychic ability sometimes fluctuates
neighbor in, Mr. Charlie M., who had knowing that it originated in another but has not changed noticeably since
told of two UFO sightings recently. galaxy." He felt he was communicating
Norman spent the night in Bristol, and with a computer. He said the object (continued next page)
FLORIDA, Continued These u n u s u a l occurances flourescent light. When off, he could
involving Norman Hill are certainly see nothing unusual. He thinks it was
his UFO sightings. He claims to have strange. He does not seem either 3000 to 4000 feet up and moving about
experienced several other UFO or disturbed or obsessed by them. His 300 mph. Unfortunately, there were no
psychic events: latest hobby is growing carnivorous other witnesses to help determine size.
plants. His interest in UFOs seems to It appeared twice the size of a full moon.
PSYCHIC be based on a general curosity about
the science they seem to represent. RETIRED NAVY
a.) In Nov 67, he saw a very high Nor does he seem overly interested in
oval object fly over with lights around psychic phenomena, but he and his Mr. White is a 66 year old retired
the perimeter. parents seem convinced his ability to aviation metalsmith for the U.S. Navy,
b.) In Dec 72, while grading physics receive psychic messages is much and was also an active reservist. He was
papers, he somehow received a stronger than most. It has not been a crewmember on antisubmarine
description of soft white-skinned tested. I consider his 12 Jan 77, UFO aircraft, and still enjoys excellent
people and some information about a sighting an ordinary unknown because, health. He told us he also had two night
formula concerning the force of gravity. although the report was highly strange, UFO sightings, one before and one
c.) In June 74, he was on his bed in it was a night light without supporting after this 1974 sighting.
Pensacola when he had a vision of a 14- witnesses. Arrangements have started In the summer of 1959 he was
year old girl in his class in St. for our investigator in Gadsden County driving from New Orleans to Pensacola
Petersburg. She reached down, and as to interview Mr. Charlie M. concerning about 9:30 PM with his commanding
he took her hand it felt life-like. As they his UFO sightings in the same area. officer, a Navy Captain. After crossing
"went for a walk" he could see his body the Mobile causeway, they turned
on his bed. When he next saw her he did south on a two lane road. They rounded
not mention it, but she asked if anything CASE 2 a turn about one-half mile south and
particularly strange happened to him saw a large round light "like a moon"
that summer. When he said, "Yes," she One 26 June 85, Charles M. White hovering over the road perhaps a mile
described how she went for a walk with heard my lecture on UFOs at his away. They stopped the car and got
him in an out-of-body experience. Methodist church and told me of his out. It was like a white flourscent light
d.) In Oct 76, he saw the upper half 1974 sighting. He reported a glowing, that lit up the road. "You could read a
of two different looking entities appear convex- sided, disc-shaped object that newspaper by it." Its diameter was 60
near the ceiling, a white-skinned female blinked on and off repeatedly as it flew feet to 100 feet, at least three times the
and a grey-skinned male. He got the over his home in a clear afternoon sky. road width.
impression one was the guardian angel During an interview in his home on 15 They heard no sound. They both
of his mother and the other of his father. Oct 85, he reported the following said, "I see it, but I don't believe it.", and
They were trying to determine which information. they made a pact not to tell anyone
was responsible for him. "because they will tell us we are crazy."
e.) In Apr 83, again while resting on CONVEX For five minutes it didn't move. It
his bed, he saw a black silhouette of a suddenly went straight up and abruptly
large-headed man appear from the wall He was mowing his front lawn one stopped. Then it went straight west and
and stand in the doorway. No light August afternoon in 1974, facing west, abruptly stopped. It hovered for a few
came through the shape. Then a green when he glanced up and saw a strange moments, and blinked out as it got back
arm "came out of the lamp shade" and object moving to the east across a clear over the road.
he heard voices talking about the green sky. His first reaction was to yell to his In 1978 Charles was looking out of
snake. He said, "Its not a snake, its an wife in the house to get the binoculars the rear viewing window of a P-3, Orion,
arm," and a mental voice, sounding and come outside (she confirmed this). at 22,000 feet. Heading northeast near
surprised, said, "If you can hear this When she got out about 40 seconds Atlanta, Georgia, he saw a round,
raise your left hand." When he did, the later, the object was going out of view white, flourescent-like light that
silhouettes and "voices" vanished. behind the trees. The object appeared appeared to be 2000 to 3000 feet above
f.) Finally, in Apr 84, he went into circular when first seen and when last the ground. It was moving in the same
his back yard about 1:30 AM and saw a seen. However, as it moved through its general direction they were until it
one-foot diameter brilliant white light closest point, about 60 degrees above abruptly stopped and hovered. Then it
flash momentarily about four feet above the southern horizon, he could see the headed about 90 degrees away,
the ground. When he went back out a clear-outlined shape of a convex disk stopped, then made an arc and blinked
little later, the same thing occurred, and standing on edge. out. He said it was identical in
he got a mental message asking if he The strangest thing is that it appearance and maneuverability to the
knew anyone who was ill. continually blinked on and off about one he saw in 1959. He did not tell
every three seconds. The on-time anyone, because he thought they would
SUMMARY equaled the off-time, about 1.5 seconds.
When on, it looked like a large, white (continued on page 17)
MASSACHUSETTS FORUM
By Walter N. Webb
MEDIA ATTENTION
TOUGH TALK
SECRECY UPDATE
In making a trip last June to interview one of the secondary what seems to be an absurdity and what '•'
Schmidruti, Switzerland, where Eduard witnesses, Guido Mossbrugger, a might merely be an indication of
Meier and family lives, I had hoped to science teacher, on the credibility of advanced alien technology which would r
interview some of the secondary one point out of the hundreds of mind seem occult. The reason behind the
witnesses to the case. However, Frank stretching questions raised by the purposeful absurdities in the contact
Stuckert, the English-speaking friend of contact notes. Later, by telephone, I notes is apparently to keep scientists
Meier and his small group of message interviewed another secondary witness disinterested, and therefore
disseminators, who often act as and schoolteacher, Elsi Moser of governments also. Then this UFO case,
interpreter, was still recovering from an Zurich, who speaks English fluently. like all others, will not be the cause of
operation at the time, and the secretary She affirmed that she was a witness to any sudden worldwide realization and
of the group who also speaks English nighttime UFO lights associated with panic that UFOs are real and that
q u i t e f l u e n t l y , B. Z i m m e r m a n , one of Meier's contacts. extraterrestrials are around. This
unexpectedly had to be in Munich the reason turns out to be consistent with
same week to undergo medical tests. MESSAGE general explanations within the contact
Thus, outside of merely meeting Meier, notes themselves.
his wife and their two sons there, and Thus, what little I could observe on
Eva Bieri, the latter four being the trip merely confirmed what one PREVIEW
secondary witnesses, I could do no would expect of a true contactee and
interviewing at Schmidruti since my genuine secondary witnesses. They Before inquiring from Walt Andrus
German is even worse than their seem dedicated to letting sincerely about the availability of Wendelle
English. interested people learn the spiritual Stevens' Investigation Report on the
I did look through Meier's four bigmessage to which they have been Meier case, or of other detailed
photograph albums of colored S1/^" by exposed, but also dedicated to not information on the case, the interested
5" prints and order copes of any at 5 turning the affair into a cult with a guru. reader should ask the following
SwF each (about $2 at that time). About They are upset to hear that anyone can questions.
700 of them, taken mostly at 15 different still feel the affair could be a hoax, and 1) Would my religious views, if any,
places during 1975-76 and at two other are actually much more interested now be incompatible with a universal
locations in 1981, show the posing in the spiritual message from the spiritual message from aliens whose
UFOs, and another 300 or so show contact notes than in affirming over and civilization dates back hundreds of
landing traces and other evidence over the reality of the photographs and thousands of years? Would I refuse to
related to the reported contacts. A 61- movie footage. The spiritual message question the basis of my own religious'
page listing (in German but being seems to be the main point of it all, faith?
translated into English) describes the although the contact notes also contain 2) Do I believe that our present day
times and locations, and associated much in the nature of general science. science is near the pinnacle of what
information. Representative photos About 7 of the secondary science of the future could ever
from, this collection, enlarged, have witnesses live on the premises of the achieve, and that no alien race tens of
appeared in the Elders' Vols. I and II. Meier • residence. Another several thousands of years in advance of us
dozen of his supporters, including other could perform acts which to us would
INTERVIEW secondary witnesses, live nearby in the seem like magic or put science fiction to
Zurich area. shame?
In Munich I interviewed B. To my own satisfaction I have 3) Would I allow what I read in the
Zimmerman for a day, concerning determined that in at least one instance, contact notes to influence my
various questions arising in trying to and in perhaps many more, what was judgement on the degree of-validity of
interpret Meier's voluminous set of passed off to Meier as science was the physical evidence involved in the
contact notes. However, she started instead an absurdity purposely inserted case?
working for their group only about 5 into the contact conversations and If your answer to any of these is
years ago and is not one of the two notes. Few scientists therefore would yes, there is no point in your inquiring
dozen or so secondary witnesses ' wish to defend the reality of the further into the Meier case, or spending
named in W e n d e l l e Stevens' purported science in these notes. money on the materials.
I n v e s t i g a t i v e Report. Over the However in most instances one is
telephone she helped me briefly unable to distinguish for sure between (continued on page 18)
11
RANDLES REPLIES
By Jenny Randies
I have been urged by several In fact, had we waited six months December 1980), when Halt himself
people (in America, Australia and to write the book it might have been alleges involvement. Since, in my view,
Britain) to respond to the "scurrilous very different. Probably not. The it is the first night (27 December 1980)
attack" on our book S/cy Crash by material on the case of a first hand which reflects the main event, this shift
Jennie Ziedman (June 1985 MUFON nature which Ray Boeche collated for of emphasis smells fishy to me. There is
Journal). Unfortunately, my copy of MUFON, which we also collated in also nothing on the Halt memo or tape
this issue must have vanished .into the England, and which is demonstrated on which is inexplicable. Much of it is
Bermuda Triangle in transit (as it never the "Halt" tape recording, largely came perfectly, consistent with the Ian
arrived) — and it has taken me some as a result of our book. We deliberately Ridpath lighthouse theory.
time to see a copy of the article, thanks aimed to tell what we had so as to Now I do not believe that Ridpath,
to Ray Boeche. I was expecting the stimulate other researchers into digging is right, and the lighthouse is the sole (or
worst, and planning an even more for paydirt. Sadly, this is a policy which even principal) stimulus for this case.
vigorous response than the one already is not being followed by certain other However, we do have to assess the
submitted to Lucius Parish's rash investigators, who are protecting their truth, and the documented evidence
statements. However, I received a first hand material for their own reasons which has been "fed" to us seems to
surprise. Whilst the Parish letter does — and behaving (in my view) contrary support his view. Which may, of
deeply concern me, since it asserts a to both, the free flow of information arid course, be precisely the point!
number of things I know to be untrue, I the good of ufology. This is something, Halt refuses the lighthouse
found the Ziedman piece fair and at least, we cannot be accused of. solution. Yet, despite the fact that
reasonable. There is little in it I would others have gone public (including
quibble over. TIME FACTOR Colonel Ted. Conrad — who did not
suffer for his pains and was promoted to
RUMORS You must see our rush into print in General), plus Halt's claim that he has
the light of two things in late 1983. The not had any pressure to prevent him
, As Brenda Butler and Dot Street's British media stories forced our hand. from talking, he has failed to react. You
"mentor" on the case, according to We had to counteract the sensationalist would expect a witness whose
Ziedman (although, in fact, I have rubbish that was emerging with the observational faculties have been called
interviewed witnesses and visited both facts. And we had to do it fast. Also we i n t o such q u e s t i o n to reply
the site and the base several times), I were induced by the apathy and ridicule vehemently. Halt declines to do so.
was myself acutely aware of .the lack of heaped onto us from all quarters in our This is one of many questions still
'direct eye-witness testimony. It was one two years of work before 1983. outstanding on this case. Jennie
of the perennial problems of this Yes, in a sense, the book was, Ziedman does make one point I take
bothersome case. Much of what I had premature. And we paid for it in sales, issue over. She claims that I state that
to work with for the book, by late 1983, because it is not easy to comprehend. no people remained on base in 1983
was second-hand. But almost none of it But I would do exactly the same again, who had been there in 1980.1 have not
was the third-hand material alleged by for we wanted to catalyse others into said this. Halt, as a prime example,
Ziedman (except whenever action in places where some good could refutes it immediately! I have always
supportative anecdotes are quoted). be done. We achieved that. So we did known that there were one or two there
There was some first-hand material all that we expected. who had been since 1980, but none who
(see, for example, the verbatim quotes were involved in the events. They were
from' "Art Wallace"/Larry .Warren in HALT'S ROLE all moved off. That is a different kettle of
the chapter. "The Wallace Tapes." fish altogether.
Yet her principal point is a valid Colonel Halt's role certainly is
one. The book is not a scientific crucial, as Jennie Ziedman says. Why QUESTIONS REMAIN
discussion of the case and was never did he set himself up as a scapegoat (or
intended to be. It was produced in the allow himself to be set up)? Why was I know this case is confusing and
one and only way such a book could be the carefully contrived "memo" and would not quarrel with Jennie
written in 1983, presenting the mish- then the "tape" released when it was? Ziedman's term "convoluted" for our
mash of rumors, accounts and counter Both these questions are fundamental book. But it is entirely honest. By failing
rumors (as confusing and contradictory because they emphasize the
as they inevitably were). importance of the second night (29-30 (continued on page 17)
12
NEWS'NVIEWS
In 1980 Dr. Leo Sprinkle, then Ann Eller, the new CUFOS Center in complicity to withhold information, you
Director of Counseling and Testing at Phoenix and plans for UFO research will find nothing solid here to support .
the University of Wyoming, invited to there. either' the extraterrestrial or the
Laramie about twenty UFO The keynote speaker at the secrecy theories.
" c o n t a c t e e s " w h o m he had banquet Saturday night was Dr. Fawcett and Greenwood's
hypnotically regressed to their UFO Aphrodite Clamar, the psychologist technique in most cases is to quote
encounters. His purpose in bringing who has worked with Budd Hopkins. extensively from the newly-released
them together was to give them an She has done most of the regressions in material, then pretty much leave it at
opportunity to share and compare their his encounter cases. Interestingly, the that. Occasionally they toss in an
experiences, to search for .patterns, whole battery of tests administered by intriguing although unsubstantiated
and to consider whether they should Dr. Clamar, but graded and assessed question, such as "Perhaps even more
"go public" with their stories. A real by other psychologists, show that interesting...is the story of what we
bond of friendship was established people who believe that they have been haven't been told by the authorities"
among the fifteen who were able to be abducted by a UFO are a pretty (p.40). Perhaps, but they give us no
there. Since then the annual meeting average lot; the only personality traits material to back up that speculation.
has been open not only to those who they seem to have in common are those They seem to expect the reader to
have had personal experiences, but that might be accounted for by the be impressed by the sheer, bulk of
also to UFO investigators and to the abduction itself. unexplained cases. But many of the
interested public. —By Mildred Biesele cases they report are up to almost 40
Although Dr. Sprinkle has lowered years old; do we learn anything from
his profile in UFO research for personal Clear Intent trotting out these old and tired cases?
and professional reasons, his presence Some of the cases happened in other
and personality still sustain the The clear intent of the book Clear countries; is it legitimate to blame the
conferences sponsored by a 1 small Intent is tb.prove that 1) there are a lot U.S. government for secrecy if officials
enthusiastic Laramie group, PRO-UFO of unexplained "objects" in our skies, at the foreign UFO site did not
(Paranormal Research Organization and 2) there is an extensive announce the UFO at the time?
for UFO Studies). "government coverup" of this Most importantly: Fawcett and
. Often a person who has been at information. Greenwood do not provide us with
the MUFON annual Symposium will Authors Lawrence Fawcett and much of any information other than the
see familiar faces in Laramie. Last year Barry J. Greenwood deserve credit for actual1 report. They seldom suggest the
two speakers, Paul Norman and Hilary forcing the government to release possibility of alternate explanations.
Evans, spoke at both conferences. This hundreds of pages of documents on They do admit (rather grudgingly, I
year Ken McLean, Wyoming State UFO sightings. But they admit right at thought) the possibility that some
Director for MUFON, who spoke at a the start (page 7) that their material is UFOs may be temperature inversions
special meeting in St. Louis on public "not earthshaking" and does not prove (p.6), satellite debris (p. 10), meteors
relations, was master of ceremonies. that the reported UFOs were and fireballs (p.167), or atmospheric
The emphasis in Laramie is still on "absolutely real." disturbance (p.176). They make no
the personal aspects of the UFO What, then, can we conclude from attempt to develop the possibility of
experience. One morning was spent in this massive compilation of UFO such explanations.
group discussion, and one afternoon reports? They make no mention
was a closed session, no press or tape If you, like many people in the UFO whatsoever of recent Persinger/
recorders, so that speakers could tell movement, believe that UFOs are Brady/Devereaux studies which
their stories to a sympathetic audience extraterrestrial space ships and that the indicate that unexplained luminosities
in confidence. This brought out some government knows this and tries to often form along earthquake faults and
tales that lapped upon the wilder shores keep it secret, then this book will help areas of stress! They extensively report
of ufology. you to believe what you want to believe. such situations as sightings at a military
In a more down to earth vein, Jerry If you, like me, note that there is no base many years ago, without telling us
Clark, Associate Editor of Fate proof of even a single extraterrestrial whether alternative explanations might
magazine and new editor of the visitor, and suspect that a "govern- be possible; surely the least they could
CUFOS International UFO Reporter, ment coverup" is more a matter of
discused with Dr. Hynek's secretary, chance and ineptitude rather than (continued on page 16)
13
UFO SECRECY MUFON sponsors an annual symposium on UFO research and investigation,
typically held in major metropolitan areas each year. Speakers include PhD
scientists and others knowledgable about UFO-related topics. This Index compiles
BY authors names, titles, and subjects discussed. Additional information on availability
LARRY BRYANT of Symposium Proceedings or article reprints is available from the above address.
SUBJECT INDEX
15
UFO STUDY MATERIALS
By Marge Ghristensen
SLIDES released under the P.O.I.A., the Cash- energy, research, and funds for the
Landrum case, the Kirtlarid AFB case, persons involved in their production.
The following new materials are and the RAF Bentwaters/Woodbridge All of these items have been compiled
now available for purchase by MUFON case. ' } •. ' . ' . ' . and made available to our ranks for the
State organizations or interested Dr. Jacobs provides an purpose of furthering the causes of
individuals: Slide package containing 50 introduction and also a concluding UFO research and public education of
slides with narrative and slide box. This statement. The price of the videotape is the subject. They will be of little value if
set is appropriate for use either in public $20 for Y2" tape (either VHS or Beta) they are not used on a wide scale by all
education endeavors or for use with and $50 for %" tape (either format). of our MUFON State organizations. It
investigator training sessions. Cost of Orders should be sent to Marge is now incumbent upon every serious
package is $25.00. Additionally, an Christensen, 2 Cherry Road, Beverly, UFO researcher and all State
expanded 100-slide set may be MA 01915. Make checks payable to: organizations to support these projects
purchased for $45.00. This set includes Mass. MUFON, Inc., and please specify by obtaining these materials for their
the original 50 slides and 50 other size of tape and format desired. '. respective geographic areas and
slides..This set may also be used for putting them to use.
either public information or for CATALOG In the past these materials did not
investigator-training. Topics covered exist, nor did the incredible mutual
include a spin through the solar system, Finally, a one-of-a-kind computer cooperation and national cohesiveness
IFOs, UFO photos, important people in catalog of UFO resource materials and in our organization which has resulted
the field of UFOlogy, important cases, their locations at various UFO Regional in making these materials possible
government documents released under Resource Collection Centers across today.
the Freedom of Information Act, etc., the country is available from David In the past there have been
The slide sets may be purchased from Christensen, 2 Cherry Rd., Beverly, outcries from our ranks as to the need
Dan Wright, 1502 Marquette, Lansing, MA 01915. The catalog is the most for such resources to be made
MI 48906. Checks should be made extensive of its kind in existence, and available. Now that they have become a
payable to Dan Wright. includes listings for books, periodicals, reality, it . is time to back up those
video-cassettes, audio cassettes, outcries with actions and to begin to
VIDEO news clippings, and microfilms. In implement these new materials in order
addition, a supplement covering close to assist in advancing the stature of the
Massachusetts MUFON has to 1000 articles on UFO subjects from UFO subject and to further the cause of
produced a documentary geared for a popular periodicals is available. At a serious research into the phenomenon.
60-minute time slot, and available on later date, it is anticipated that a
either '/£" or %" videotape, with either s u p p l e m e n t listing g o v e r n m e n t
VHS or Beta format. The program, documents obtained through the FOIA NEWSTWIEWS, Continued
hosted by Dr. David M. Jacobs, U.S. will be available.
H i s t o r y P r o f e s s o r at Temple The catalog includes seveal helpful have done would be to find out and
University, and author of The UFO types of information about each item report whether the area is along an
Controversy in America, also includes listed, such as length, location, content, earthquake fault.
segments with the. following persons: etc. The catalog is available in an Like so many UFO partisans,
Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Walt Andrus, John expandable binder to allow for updates Fawcett and Greenwood frequently
Schuessler, Budd Hopkins, Barry and supplements to be added. Current commit what might be called the "craft
Greenwood, Dan Wright, and price is $30.00, payable to David fallacy": someone sees a light in the sky
Raymond Fowler. The program is Christensen. The catalog will and refers to it as a "craft" or "vehicle,"
entitled, UFOs: A SCIENTIFIC eventually be offered for purchase to even though the strong possibility
ENIGMA, and covers UFO research university libraries and major public remains it might be just an anomalous
o g a n i z a t i o n s , how cases are libraries. light. In one case they give us the text of
investigated, UFO photographs, a 1976 report from Tunisia about a light
abduction cases, famous cases, a TIME & MONEY which "seemed" to touch down near
historical overview of the UFO subject, Jerba airport, but then restate it in their
U.S. Government involvement in the All of the items mentioned here
UFO subject, Government documents involve literally huge amounts of time, (continued on page 17)
16
RANDLES, Continued
NEWS'NVIEWS, Continued
MEIER, Continued
DR. RICHARD F. HAINES
No individual trek by any of us to
MESSAGE, Continued twice the value of IUR. If the Journal is Switzerland now, 5 or 10 years after
to retain a professional editor, it will be Meier's main contacts, is likely to reveal
scene, due to various reasons. If our essential that he/she receive a monthly nearly as much as what the 20 or so
members are seriously interested in stipend for their editorial services. A trips made by each of those on the main
resolving the UFO phenomenon, they decision and announcement by the investigative team of the Meier case has
will not allow this fate to strike down MUFON Board of Directors will be already revealed, as disclosed through
MUFON. forthcoming in the December 1985 the forementioned book and photo
* * * issue of the Journal in this regard. volume. There is now also available a 1
The Center for UFO Studies * * * and }/2 hour video tape on the Meier
discontinued their eight page bi- The Staff of the MUFON UFO case which includes most of the
monthly publication, the CUFOS Journal is formally inviting members, "beamship" movie footage.
Associate Newsletter, with the June- readers, and former contributors of Editor's Note:
July 1985 issue Volume 6, Number 3, articles to the Journal, to submit Dr. Deardorff has provided a list of
that was edited by John P. material for publication in future issues. sources of available material on the
Timmerman in Lima, Ohio. It will be Narrative accounts for investigated Meier case that will be mailed by
combined with their bi-monthly UFO sighting reports, photographs and MUFON to people having further
International UFO Reporter by adding drawings are especially solicited. interest in this case.
four pages to the IUR and increasing Consultants and Research Specialists
MUFON
the price for six issues per year to are encouraged to share their UFO
AMATEUR RADIO NET
$25.00 in the U.S.A. expertise by preparing articles for the EVERY SATURDAY MORNING
Since the International UFO Journal that are applicable and AT 0800 EST (OR DST)
Reporter and the MUFON UFO pertinent to their areas of research. ON 7237 KHZS.S.B.
Journal are the only two UFO Letters to the Editor are also welcome
organizational magazines still being contributions, provided they are of a AFRICAN, Continued
published in the United States, it is constructive nature. The subscribers to
imperative that both revise their the Journal deserve and expect to can do. W a l t A n d r u s g e n t l y
financial positions for the future. As an receive the finest UFO publication in reprimanded me for not reporting back
example: If the annual membership/ the world. to MUFON about this incident more
subscription price for the MUFON rapidly than I did, but one has to be a
UFO JOURNAL was increased to little more patient in dealing with Third
$25.00 for twelve monthly issues (20 World countries than with speedy
pages), the subscribers would be Americans. It all takes time, and in
receiving a publication comparatively Africa, a little more so.
18
AFRICAN, Continued THE NIGHT SKY
Although I was now pretty sure DECEMBER 1985
that this is what the Zimbabwean pilots
had pursued, I was still not 100% Bright Planets (Evening Sky):
certain. But the matter was further
resolved when I received a letter from The giant planet Jupiter (In Capricornus) gleams in the SW at dusk, setting
my contact in Johannesburg, Giep about 8:15 PM in midmonth.
Barnard, whom I had asked to check
the matter out with the CSIR. He said, Bright Planets (Morning Sky):
"I have not been able to speak to the
person in charge as he is presently on Mars, passing from Virgo into Libra, is visible in the SE predawn sky. It lies very
leave. However, I was fortunate to near the crescent moon on the 8th and in fact, for the SE part of the country,
contact his Deputy, Mr. van der Riet." rises behind the moon that morning, emerging from occultation at the dark limb
And yes, they had been releasing these shortly after 4 AM.
high altitude balloons from early in July
(probably the 8/9th), the 16th July and Saturn, in Scorpius, reappears in the morning sky but remains very low in the
on the 22nd July. ESE at dawn.
Venus, passing 1° below Saturn on the 5th, can be glimpsed with difficulty low
CONCLUSIONS
in the SE early in the month. By mid-December it rises only about half an hour
before the sun.
There is no doubt in my mind that
the majority of the spate of sightings Meteor Showers:
referred to the space balloon, including
those chased by the two Zimbabwean The Geminid shower, lasting from about Dec. 7-15, peaks on the morning of the
pilots. 14th. A fine display should be seen without a moon to interfere. The rate is
Nevertheless, there are several about 50 per hour. Many of the meteors are bright, white, and slow with short
imponderables which must be taken paths. A gibbous moon will bother observers until 3 AM at the peak of the
into account. Mr. N.I. Bull, the Met Ursids on the 22nd (15 per hour).
Officer from Bulawayo, did mention
that although he accepts that it was the Halley's Comet:
balloon from Pretoria, he could not
understand the drift to the NE from Having passed the earth on its sunward journyey, Comet Halley continues to
Bulawayo (it was seen over Thornhill brighten and by the latter half of the month should be visible to the naked eye
AFB) later in the evening, as the winds for the first time in three-quarters of a century. However, moonlight will
were in a SE direction. Also, there interfere then. Binoculars will reveal the object during the first half of December
seems no logical explanation for the in dark moonless skies. As it moves westward across Pisces, the comet arcs
'hovering' in one position for such a below the Great Square of Pegasus, through the Circlet of Pisces between the
long time. I had other individual reports 12th and 16th, and passes east of the Water Jar in Aquarius between the 26th
(not mentioned here) which also and 31st. At midmonth look for Halley beginning at 6PM when it is 50° up in the
reported this long, hovering stage. SSW. It sets 5/2 hours later. On the 15th the comet's position is at R.A. 23 h
There was also very rapid llm, Dec. +3°6' (1950).
movement from the Northern Part of
South Africa (see Fig. 2) to its Moon Phases:
movement to Bulawayo in Zimbabwe.
And what happened to it after the last Last quarter-Dec. 5
sighting at Thornhill? Why was it not New moon--Dec. 11
seen or reported again?
And the reporting on the 28th July:
First quarter-Dec. 18
Full moon--Dec. 27 C
what could that have been? There were
no more balloons released after the The Stars:
O
22nd July - certainly not in that month,
so what did the witnesses in Durban By now in midevening the summer stars have almost disappeared in the NW;
North, Hammarsdale and Margate see? the autumn stars are past the celetial meridian in the west; and the winter
I am still trying to trace or waiting constellations occupy the eastern sky. The cold seasons' sky symbol, Orion the
for replies from some of the witnesses, Hunter, is well up in the SE at 9 PM. Below Orion's trio of belt stars, observe a
but I can't see that there is much else I fuzzy spot in the warrior's sword. It is the Great Nebula of Orion, a glowing
cloud of gas and dust--a cosmic nursery for newborn stars.
(continued on page 18) Beware of that UFO culprit Sirius, which rises in the ESE at 8 PM in midmonth.
19
DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE
by
Walt Andrus