AFU Newsletter - No 50 - 2005

Magazine Overview

Title: AFU NEWSLETTER
Issue: 50
Volume: December 2005
Publisher: Archives for UFO Research Foundation (AFU)
Country: Sweden
ISSN: 0283-6378
Language: English

This issue of the AFU Newsletter, dated December 2005, focuses heavily on the "Earl Neff clippings," a significant donation of over 2,000 American press clippings from the mid-1960s, a period described as the "golden age of ufology." The newsletter details the acquisition of this collection, its availability to researchers, and highlights the serious journalistic attention UFOs received during that era.

The Earl Neff Clippings – Nostalgia from the Golden Age of Ufology

The main article, by Clas Svahn and translated by Stefan Isaksson, describes the donation of American press clippings from ufologist Bill Jones in Ohio. These clippings, which belonged to MUFON Ohio member Richard Lee and originated from the deceased ufologist Earl J. Neff, have been organized into twenty binders. The collection spans the mid-1960s when UFOs were a prominent topic in American magazines, with many articles still considered interesting today. The clippings primarily come from Ohio-based publications like the Cleveland Free Press and Cleveland Plain Dealer, but also from hundreds of other U.S. sources. The article notes that UFO articles were often featured prominently, sometimes on the front page, indicating public and editorial interest. An exception to the U.S.-centric reporting is an article from the New York Times dated July 14, 1968, discussing how the flying saucer debate had "add[ed] spice to life of Latins" in Argentina and Chile, including a sensationalized story of a couple who lost consciousness and reappeared miles away.

Pulitzer Prize Winner and Skepticism

The issue highlights an article by Pulitzer Prize winner MacKinlay Kantor in the January 1966 Popular Science Magazine, titled "Why I believe in flying saucers." Kantor recounts witnessing a bright, shining, semicircular object in 1954. He also discusses a conversation with General Curtis LeMay, who expressed caution but acknowledged that while many sightings could be explained by natural phenomena, there were "a few cases we've been unable to explain."

Political and Scientific Perspectives

Republican Congressman James G. Fulton is mentioned for suspecting the U.S. Air Force wasn't truthful about UFOs. The article also references Willy Ley, a German rocket scientist and science-fiction writer, who discussed UFO sightings in Family Weekly in 1968, attributing some to ball lightning and treating the phenomenon seriously.

Notable Authors and Cases

Other authors featured include Otto Binder, who advised sailors on what to do if they encountered UFOs at sea, and science-fiction writer Clifford D. Simak, who discussed the differing approaches of APRO and NICAP in investigating sightings. The collection includes articles on classic cases like the Lonnie Zamora sighting in Socorro, Texas, and the Kelly-Hopkinsville case involving the Sutton family. The article also touches upon Allen Hynek's "swamp gas" theory and how it led to ridicule, causing him to quit working for Project Blue Book.

Pilot Sightings and Physical Evidence

Several articles detail sightings by pilots, such as pilot Waldo Harris in the Salt Lake Tribune, who described a grey, disc-shaped object. The Detroit Times reported on mystery sky discs trailing an airliner. The collection also includes accounts of physical evidence, like a strange projectile that smashed through glass and into a cement floor in Bay Village, Ohio.

Stalkers and Men in Black

The newsletter mentions an article from the Pittsburgh Press discussing "Visitors from outer space," which suggested that the U.S. Air Force and NORAD were investigating individuals who silenced witnesses. The phenomenon of "Men in Black" is also noted.

Decline in Reporting and Tabloid Archives

By 1968, the number of UFO articles and sightings began to decline, as noted by The Gondolier. The collection also includes approximately 100 articles from the National Enquirer, a tabloid magazine. The article recounts the tragic destruction of the National Enquirer's archive due to an anthrax scare following the 9/11 attacks.

Specific Cases and Investigations

Notable cases mentioned include Cliff Crowder's sighting of a hovering object in Virginia, which left a warm spot and a dark mark on the road. The site was investigated, and test results were inconclusive. The Earl Neff papers are now sorted into twenty file folders, with a complete index available on the AFU website.

AFU Activities and Acquisitions

Acquisitions through eBay

The AFU has enriched its reference library by acquiring UFO-related literature through eBay, often at significantly lower prices than standard retail. Over the past three years, AFU has purchased more than 700 titles, including obscure works and New Age materials.

Final Deal on French Collection

AFU, along with other European archival organizations, has finalized a deal to acquire the archives of the French SOS-OVNI organization. AFU contributed 3,000 Euros to this joint effort, which involved acquiring approximately 400 books and non-print archival materials.

AFU Audio Cassette Library Catalogued

Katarina Otréus has cataloged the most important 50% of the AFU's audio cassette collection, which includes interviews with UFO witnesses and phenomena-related people. The index file is available for those with a serious interest.

List of International Contactee Cases Prepared by AFU Archivist

AFU archivist Sven-Olov Svensson has been compiling a catalogue of over 1,200 published contactee cases. This catalogue, initially in Swedish, has been translated into English by Stefan Isaksson and is being updated.

Recent and Upcoming Books

This section provides a detailed list of recently published and upcoming books related to UFOs and related phenomena, with brief descriptions and bibliographic information. Titles cover a wide range of topics, from historical UFO investigations and contactee accounts to clinical studies of alien abduction beliefs and analyses of conspiracy theories.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently emphasizes the importance of archival work and the preservation of UFO-related materials. It highlights the serious journalistic treatment of UFOs in the past, contrasting it with a perceived decline in recent years. The AFU's proactive approach to acquiring and cataloging information, both through donations and online marketplaces like eBay, underscores its commitment to supporting serious research and stimulating critical discussion on UFO phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, acknowledging the complexity of the subject while encouraging rigorous investigation and debunking of hoaxes where applicable.

FAQ

• What is the Earl Neff collection? The Earl Neff collection is a donation of over 2,000 American press clippings from the mid-1960s, focusing on UFOs and flying saucers, which once belonged to ufologist Earl J. Neff.
• How did the AFU acquire the Earl Neff clippings? The clippings were donated to the Archives for UFO Research Foundation by ufologist Bill Jones in Ohio, having been obtained from MUFON Ohio member Richard Lee, who got them from Earl J. Neff.
• What is the significance of the mid-1960s for UFO reporting? In the mid-1960s, numerous articles about UFOs and flying saucers appeared in American magazines, indicating that the UFO phenomenon was taken very seriously and discussed widely.
• What other activities has the AFU been involved in? The AFU has been acquiring new UFO-related literature through eBay, cataloging its audio cassette library, preparing a list of international contactee cases, and participating in a joint deal to acquire the French SOS-OVNI archives.