Aerial Phenomena Perspectives vol 1 no 1

Magazine Overview

Title: AERIAL PHENOMENA PERSPECTIVES
Volume: One
Issue: Number One
Date: June 22, 23, 24, 1973
Publisher: Allen H. Greenfield
Country: USA
Language: English

This inaugural issue of Aerial Phenomena Perspectives, distributed on a free-of-charge basis, is primarily focused on announcing and organizing the Tenth Annual National UFO Conference, scheduled to be held in Atlanta, Georgia, from June 22-24, 1973. Allen H. Greenfield serves as the conference chairman. The publication also delves into recent literature concerning strange phenomena, presenting case studies and investigative reports.

Convention in the Works

The lead article, penned by Allen H. Greenfield, details the upcoming Tenth Annual National UFO Conference, which he is chairing in Atlanta. He humorously notes the personal stakes involved, likening it to having 'the old shoe's on my foot this year.' Greenfield encourages attendance and ticket purchases, stating, 'DON'T BUY A TICKET IF YOU DON'T EXPECT TO COME.'

The conference program includes a public session featuring nuclear physicist Stanton T. Friedman, with tickets priced at $1.00. Delegate sessions are also available. Tickets for the entire event, including delegate status, were priced at $3.00 if purchased before June 20th, and $5.00 thereafter. Greenfield also outlines a program for individuals willing to sell blocks of advance tickets, offering them a $1.00 commission for every ticket sold if they sell three or more. The convention program is subject to change without notice.

• Conference Details:
• Dates: June 22, 23, 24, 1973
• Location: Atlanta, Georgia
• Public Session: Lenox Square Auditorium, Lenox Square, Friday evening, June 22, 1973.
• Delegate Sessions: Rodeway Inn, across the street from Lenox Square, June 22, 23, 24, 1973.

Strange Phenomena in the Recent Literature

This section, also written by Allen H. Greenfield, reviews a copyrighted article by Dr. Berthold Eric Schwarz, M.D., a psychiatrist specializing in UFO investigations, published in the January-February 1972 edition of Flying Saucer Review. The article focuses on a case involving a Massachusetts woman, Mrs. Stella Lansing.

The Case of Mrs. Stella Lansing:

Dr. Schwarz's investigation began after a lecture at the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization's Eastern Symposium on January 23, 1971. Mrs. Lansing's case involved factors such as 'little men, disembodied voices, religious symbolism.' She experienced emotional disturbance and was twice admitted to a state hospital in 1967, where she was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and flying saucer hallucinations. Since 1967, she has not had a recurrence.

Dr. Schwarz noted that her reported symptoms were similar to other contactee cases documented by John Keel and Jacques Vallee. As a Roman Catholic, she had consulted a priest and believed her 'telepathic messages' came from Beelzebub, leading Dr. Schwarz to observe that in earlier times she might have been considered 'a woman possessed.'

However, the case became more complex as Mrs. Lansing possessed photographic evidence. Dr. Schwarz viewed hundreds of UFOs recorded on film in her collection of over 300 regular and 8mm reels. He distinguished these objects from conventional phenomena like dust. Dr. Schwarz conducted psychiatric, physical, and neurological examinations, including electroencephalography, and considered Mrs. Lansing to be 'subjectively honest.'

Further Investigation and Sightings:

On February 12, 1971, Dr. Schwarz and Mrs. Lansing visited one of her UFO locations at 4:00 AM, where a mysterious light was observed. Film footage taken by Mrs. Lansing was reviewed.

On April 15, 1971, during a second visit to the area, Dr. Schwarz and Mrs. Lansing, accompanied by a friend, observed another incident. Two lights appeared, changed color and size, merged, divided, and moved soundlessly. During this event, Dr. Schwarz's tape recorder malfunctioned, even after a battery change, though Mrs. Lansing's battery-driven camera and Dr. Schwarz's watch functioned normally. The interior of the car was warm due to the heater.

Another car appeared 100-200 feet in front of their auto, its headlights illuminating the area and flickering. Mrs. Lansing's friend panicked, and they returned to their car. Dr. Schwarz captured brief film footage showing the object above the other car's lights, with some shots showing windshield reflections.

Other Cases Mentioned:

The article references a case published in Skylook (December 1972), based on material from the Santa Ana, California Register (October 25, 1972, and November 1, 1972). This case involves Norman F. Schulte, a photographic engineer, who disclosed infra-red UFO photographs taken in 1955 with colleagues Bob Forrester and La Rue Stillwell while employed at North American Aviation. These images appeared unexpectedly after film development and subsequent tests, and conventional explanations were eliminated.

An FAA official confirmed that numerous sightings were made by tower operators at the Los Angeles airport around the time of these tests, supporting the determination that something was in the sky.

Schulte was approached by a man with a military ID, claiming to be a Captain from the Air Material Command at Wright-Patterson A.F.B., who wanted to obtain the negatives for investigation. Schulte refused to release the films without a guarantee of their return, leading to a heated discussion and a threat to his job security.

• Dr. Schwarz's footnote also mentions other similar cases:
• Sgt. Ben Thompson received a call from an unidentified person asking about a UFO case and advising silence.
• A witness to a 1966 multiple-witness incident received a similar call urging her not to talk about her experience.
• In April 1967, two New Jersey families had a UFO experience that involved police contact, but neither local nor state police had any record of the event.
• A 79-year-old widow of an Air Force Colonel reported UFO experiences in 1969, including seeing a car signaling a UFO with its lights, and the UFO responding. Psychiatric investigation indicated she was alert and intelligent.

Footnotes and References

The issue includes footnotes clarifying details about the cases discussed, such as the number of reels viewed by Dr. Schwarz and the nature of the lights observed. It also lists references for further reading, including Skylook and Flying Saucer Review.

Acknowledgement from the Editor

Allen H. Greenfield acknowledges the contributions of Y.N. ibn Aharon and Laura Mundo to ufology, dedicating the issue to them.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The primary theme of this issue is the promotion and organization of a national UFO conference, highlighting the importance of public engagement and discussion within the UFO community. The editorial stance, as conveyed by Greenfield, is enthusiastic and community-oriented, encouraging participation and the sharing of information. The review of recent literature and case studies indicates a focus on empirical evidence, including photographic documentation and psychiatric evaluations, while also acknowledging the mysterious and sometimes inexplicable nature of UFO phenomena. The magazine appears to be a platform for disseminating information and fostering dialogue among UFO researchers and enthusiasts.