Anomaly 03 1969 Dec

Magazine Overview

Title: ANOMALY
Issue: No. 3
Date: December 1969
Publisher: Specialized Research
Editor: John A. Keel

This issue of ANOMALY delves into critical aspects of ufological research, focusing on data integrity, public perception, and the nature of anomalous phenomena. The cover highlights several key articles, including an examination of the future of ufological research, an analysis of publications read by ufologists, and a discussion on subjective sightings. It also features a review of Colin Wilson's book "THE MIND PARASITES" and a theatrical review concerning "The pentagon's juggling act." Statements from Howard Menger and astronaut Neil Armstrong are also included.

The Air Force Statistics: A Problem of Accuracy

John A. Keel's lead article critically dissects the statistics compiled by the U.S. Air Force, particularly those from Project Blue Book. Keel asserts that these statistics have been "wantonly juggled" and are unreliable, citing numerous arithmetic errors and inconsistencies between different reports and years. He notes that while mass magazines shy away from such technical analyses, this study is crucial for ufologists to challenge government claims. Keel points out significant discrepancies in reported UFO sightings for various years, such as 1947, where the number of reports fluctuated wildly between different Air Force publications. He highlights how the "Top Secret" C.I.A. panel on UFOs reported 1,900 sightings in 1952, while Blue Book's 1966 report listed only 1,501. Furthermore, he details how totals from 1955 and 1960 reports differ significantly from later figures, suggesting a deliberate manipulation of data. Keel also notes that the Condon Report selectively used figures and omitted totals, further obscuring the data. He concludes that the Air Force statistics are intentionally misleading and that researchers must present well-documented, objective data to counter the prevailing narrative.

The "Generation Cycle" and UFO Research

This section explores the concept of a "generation cycle" in ufology, analogous to trends in the entertainment industry where interest peaks and wanes. Keel suggests that public interest in UFOs typically lasts for 3 to 5 years, and UFO-related journals often have a short lifespan of about 18 months. He observes that many publications that emerged during the 1966 publicity flap have since disappeared, mirroring patterns seen in the 1950s. Publications like APRO and FLYING SAUCER REVIEW have shown more longevity. Keel argues that publicity flaps are not indicative of actual UFO activity but are driven by subjective factors and fickle public interest. He advocates for using the current lull in public attention to conduct thorough research, compile statistical studies, and prepare well-documented material for future "flaps." The goal is to present objective evidence rather than relying on anecdotes or unsubstantiated claims, aiming to "prove our case in 1972."

Three Vital Publications

This section reviews three special issues from FLYING SAUCER REVIEW, presented as essential resources for serious UFO researchers. These publications are described as revealing hidden aspects of the UFO problem and explaining objective investigation techniques. The reviewed issues are:

1. "THE HUMANOIDS" (FSR Special #1, hardcover edition): Features contributions from prominent researchers like Dr. Jacques Vallee and Coral Lorenzen, offering new chapters and material. It is presented as a must-have, even for those who own the paperback version.
2. "BEYOND CONDON...NORTH AMERICAN REPORT ON RECENT UFO CASES AND RESEARCH" (FSR Special #2, 1969): Praised by FATE magazine as the finest work on the subject, this issue includes contributions from Dr. Leo Sprinkle, Dr. Berthold Schwarz, and John A. Keel, among others. It contains the full text of the 1952 Ohio Northern University UFO study, graphs, charts, and maps, and is considered a "major breakthrough."
3. "UFO PERCIPIENTS" (FSR Special #3): This issue includes a French UFO "healing" case investigated by Aime Michel and a study of the Gary Wilcox "contact" of 1964 by Dr. Schwarz, along with details of South American events. Dr. Leo Sprinkle and Gordon Creighton are also contributors.

Orders for these publications are to be sent to FLYING SAUCER REVIEW, 49a Kings Grove, Peckham, London SE 15, England, via international money order.

Anomalous Mail and "The International Bankers"

The magazine presents a collection of "crank" letters and "anomalous mail" received over three years. Four items were identified as the work of "UFO buffs," while the rest remain unidentified or unsolved. Three representative examples are detailed:

• EXHIBIT "A": A letter received in the Fall of 1967, mailed from Vietnam without a stamp, bearing the letterhead "INTERNATIONAL BANKERS." The letter, typed on aged paper, contained misspellings and a prediction that 1968 would be a "black year," which the editors note proved accurate due to civil disturbances and assassinations. The letter warned John Keel to be cautious and not to take interest in certain matters, threatening consequences if he did not heed the warning.
• EXHIBIT "B": A "crank" letter from 1967, composed of cut-out magazine letters, sent to a student investigating UFOs and "Men in Black" cases. The letter, addressed to "David Kimble," warned him to "FORGET ABOUT FLYING SAUCERS YOU CANT STOP US AND WILL ONLY CAUSE PANIC AND DISASTER."
• EXHIBIT "C": Mail received by SAGA magazine, purportedly from "Carlos Allende," mailed from Pittsfield, Ma., on October 14, 1968. The envelope had the typed word "VOK."

A letter from "THE INTERNATIONAL BANKERS" dated November 30, 1967, addressed to Mr. John Keel, reiterates the warning about the year 1968 being symbolized by the color black. It states that their organization is powerful and can make things "very uncomfortable" for Keel and his friends if they investigate "Phase One, Three or any thing concerning other parts of the Universe." The letter mentions that they "visited" Mr. Henslik and are "always watching." It also references other researchers like Dr. Jessup and Al Bender who allegedly "tried, without success, to find out things that do not concern them." The letter concludes by stating that not even the government can protect Keel from their powers.

Another letter, dated October 12, 1968, from "VOK" to the editors of Saga, claims to represent a group that has been "working in total secrecy on your planet since 1895." This group states they have not interfered with human life and use "specialized forms of electronic matter transmission" (teleportation) rather than "flying saucers." They communicate via frequencies beyond human reception, adapted from the laser principle. Their purpose in communicating is to assure that they are "in no way involved" with the occurrences described by Mr. Keel. They view humanity as "curious laboratory specimens" whose fate is immaterial to them, predicting that humans will "inevitably destroy your race and your planet."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of ANOMALY strongly emphasizes the need for rigorous, scientific, and objective UFO research. The editorial stance is critical of government obfuscation and manipulation of data, particularly exemplified by the U.S. Air Force's Project Blue Book statistics. There is a clear call for researchers to move beyond anecdotal evidence and emotional arguments towards verifiable facts and statistical analysis. The magazine also touches upon the cyclical nature of public interest in UFOs and the challenges faced by researchers in maintaining momentum and credibility. The inclusion of "anomalous mail" and the mysterious "International Bankers" suggests an editorial interest in the stranger, more unexplained aspects of the UFO phenomenon, while simultaneously advocating for a grounded, analytical approach to understanding them. The overarching theme is a demand for transparency and accuracy in UFO research and reporting.

This issue of ANOMALY, identified as issue number 2, features a prominent cover story titled "MIND PARASITES!" by William Burroughs, alongside an analysis of UFO media consumption and a critique of official UFO statistics. The magazine appears to be focused on fringe topics, including UFO phenomena, consciousness, and speculative science.

Mind Parasites!

The lead article, "MIND PARASITES!" by William Burroughs, draws from Colin Wilson's book "The Mind Parasites." It posits that the human race is under attack from a form of "mind cancer" or parasitic entities that have been sapping human mental energy for the past two hundred years. These entities, referred to as "malignant beings" or "Abhoth the Dark," are believed to lurk in the unconscious, cutting individuals off from their natural capacity for self-renewal and consciousness. The article suggests that technological advances have made space exploration possible, but the parasites maintain control by preventing discoveries related to the human mind and inner space. It highlights unexplained suicides among scientists investigating inner space as evidence of these parasites. The narrative suggests that combating these parasites requires pushing the brain to its limits, embracing a new understanding of space, and shedding conventional societal constructs like religion, country, and family. The article concludes with a description of a space voyage where the parasites, unable to survive in space, become desperate and reveal themselves as low-intelligence creatures.

UFO Poll - Part 2

This section presents the results of a 1968-69 poll conducted by Specialized Research, which surveyed 250 ufologists and 250 individuals from a control group. The poll aimed to identify which publications were frequently read by each group. Table 1 lists 23 media outlets, showing the percentage of ufologists and control group members who read them. Notably, publications like LOOK's UFO Special, SAGA, and MEN were read by a high percentage of ufologists, with five of the eight most widely read magazines being pro-UFO. The article points out that none of these magazines faced governmental censorship and several adopted an anti-Air Force stance. Table 2, continuing from page 50, further details the most widely read publications, categorizing them as Anti-UFO (A), Pro-UFO (P), or Neutral (N). It highlights that MEN magazine published several pro-UFO articles in 1968, and the NATIONAL ENQUIRER had a high popularity among both groups due to its documented UFO articles. EXPLORING THE UNKNOWN, despite national distribution, was rated lowest in popularity among ufologists. The section also notes that only one person in the control group had heard of NICAP or APRO.

Pertinent Publications and Organizations

The magazine lists several organizations and publications relevant to UFO research and related fields. These include "ENVIRONMENT," "MAN-ON-EARTH," "THE FUTURIST," "ZYGON," "NEWSLETTER-REVIEW," "JOURNAL OF HUMANISTIC PSYCHOLOGY," "FOSMOS," "THE CENTER LETTER," "PHILOSOPHY AND PHENOMENOLOGICAL RESEARCH," "PURSUIT," and "INFO." It also mentions "The Universal Foundation," which studies messages from psychics and contactees, and a separate publication titled "Anomaly" which is described as a science-fiction fanzine. Contact information and brief descriptions are provided for each.

Howard Menger (N.J. Contactee, 1956-57) in New York, 1967

This section includes a quote from Howard Menger, a contactee, reflecting on the difficulty of coming forward with UFO experiences, especially in the 1950s, due to societal pressures and the need to maintain a reputable image.

Subjective Sightings

This article discusses the nature of subjective UFO sightings, suggesting that many are perceived only by specific individuals under particular conditions, while others in the same area see nothing. It references RAF Air Marshal Sir Victor Goddard's hypothesis that these sightings might be made by individuals with latent psychic abilities. The text explores the idea that specific electromagnetic conditions during a "flap" period might allow an individual to perceive beyond the visible spectrum or intercept a "signal" that implants an image. These are termed "non-events" and are considered real to the percipient but not necessarily objective physical phenomena. The article notes the difficulty in definitively determining the reality of such sightings, especially when witnesses report intense emotional reactions.

M.I.B. of the Month

This segment recounts an experience from "The Autobiography of Malcolm X," where Malcolm X describes encountering a man in a dark suit while in a prison cell. The man was described as light-brown skinned with an Asiatic countenance and oily black hair, and he vanished as mysteriously as he appeared. The text also includes definitions for "PARANOIA" and "SCHIZOPHRENIA."

Greenhouse Effect on Venus

A diagram illustrates the greenhouse effect on Venus, explaining how its massive atmosphere, composed of 90 percent carbon dioxide, traps heat, leading to surface temperatures between 500 to 800 degrees. The diagram contrasts this with Earth's atmosphere, which is primarily heated by surface radiation.

Which Wire Service Do You Read?

This section presents two brief news reports, one from the NY POST and another from the NY TIMES, both dated May 9, 1969, concerning the death of a Soviet general, Lt. Gen. Boleslav A. Kenevich. The reports note that his death was the 10th or 11th general officer to die within a short period, with illnesses often unspecified, leading to speculation in the West.

(AF STATISTICS- Cont'd from page 44)

This section critically examines the validity of Air Force UFO statistics. It highlights discrepancies in reported UFO sightings for the years 1947-1949, noting three distinct official totals (375, 408, and 464). The variability of "unknown" sightings is also questioned. The article suggests that the Pentagon may have deliberately reduced figures to match publicity, citing the 1952 "flap" as an example where higher figures were reported due to public attention. It also points out discrepancies in reported sightings for November 1957, where the Air Force files show fewer cases than claimed by the BLUE BOOK. The author concludes that Air Force statistics are a "complete sham" and unsuitable for scientific study.

Research Materials

A list of research materials is provided, including directories of UFO sightings, classified directories of spontaneous phenomena, statistical analyses of lunar anomalies, indexes for NICAP and SAGA magazines, and an annotated bibliography of UFOs prepared for the Air Force. Contact information and prices are included for these resources.

Astronaut Neil Armstrong addressing Congress, Sept. 16, 1969

This section includes quotes from Neil Armstrong's address to Congress. He speaks about the age of Aquarius, humanity's journey through the cosmos, and the importance of understanding the universe to understand destiny. He concludes by stating, "Mystery, however, is a very necessary ingredient in our lives."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of ANOMALY revolve around the nature of consciousness, the potential for external influences (both alien and psychological) on the human mind, and a deep skepticism towards official government accounts and statistics, particularly concerning UFO phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, encouraging readers to question established narratives and explore unconventional ideas. There is a strong emphasis on the subjective nature of experience, the limitations of current scientific understanding, and the importance of independent research and analysis. The magazine also demonstrates an interest in the intersection of science fiction, parapsychology, and unexplained phenomena, as evidenced by the featured articles and the listed research materials.