AIR Report - The MJ12 Aquarius Hoax - 1989

Magazine Overview

This document, titled 'HOAX' and identified as issue number 5, is a copyright of 1989 by W. Toáć Zechel, published by Associated Investigative Researchers, based in Madison, WI. The primary focus of this issue is the "MJ12/AQUARIUS HOAX," detailing how certain UFO-related documents and information were allegedly fabricated and disseminated.

The MJ12/Aquarius Hoax

The article begins by likening the hoax to a "bungling, not-ready-for-prime-time magic act" with "inept hocus-pocus and plenty of movement and smoke as a distraction." It specifically calls attention to the actions of Bill Moore. A prime example cited is the "Project Aquarius" portion of the hoax. In 1987, William "Bill" Moore released "Aquarius" documents in conjunction with his public release of the "MJ12" briefing paper, attributing the "Aquarius" papers ("Executive Briefing") to Lee M. Graham of Monrovia, California. According to Moore, Graham had obtained the "Aquarius" material from a "source," and Moore and his associates could not vouch for its authenticity, though it appeared legitimate. On April 30, 1987, Moore stated that the document was a "retyped copy of an original obtained by L.M. Graham."

As early as 1985, Graham had indicated his "source" for the "Aquarius" material was a government operative or agent, lending mystique and credibility in UFOlogical circles. However, in June 1987, during Moore's press conference in Burbank, California, where he unveiled the "bogus documents," Graham revealed that his "source" was Bill Moore himself. The article points out the circular nature of this claim, with Moore attributing the "Aquarius" papers to Graham in his FOCUS newsletter, inferring Graham received them from an unknown intelligence source, when in fact Moore had provided the material to Graham.

Origins of the "Aquarius" Documents

The article then investigates where Moore obtained the "Aquarius" documents. It details a meeting on January 10, 1983, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, involving Moore, TV producer Ron Lakis, attorney Peter Gersten, and M/Sgt. Richard Doty of the USAF, then assigned to AFOSI Dist. 17 at Kirtland AFB. Gersten's notes from this conference mention Doty discussing documents on Project Aquarius and MJ-12. Moore reportedly told Peter Gersten not to mention Project Aquarius, as Moore had received the information in confidence from Doty and wanted to work with Peter.

Prior to this meeting, Doty had written to Gersten about his financial difficulties. After the conference with Moore and Lakis, Doty met with Gersten alone and offered to sell information and documents. Gersten declined, sensing he was being entrapped. Moore claims he first met Doty in September 1980 after Doty called a radio station where Moore had been interviewed. They met, and Doty allegedly provided Moore with an AFOSI report stamped "SECRET" detailing alleged UFO sightings at Kirtland AFB in August and September 1980. This document was later shown in a TV documentary, "The UFO Experience," produced by Ron Lakis. The document had blacked-out portions, suggesting censorship, but was not officially declassified.

In mid-November 1982, UFOlogists Barry Greenwood and Larry Fawcett saw this document on TV, freeze-framed it, and used the information to file a FOIA request. On December 9, 1982, the report, marked "For Official Use Only," was released from Kirtland along with three other similar documents.

The Kirtland Documents and Paul Bennewitz

One of the Kirtland documents referenced alleged UFO photos taken by Paul Bennewitz, a civilian who claimed to have observed UFOs at Kirtland and Sandia. A report signed by Doty stated that Air Force civilian employee Jerry Miller consulted with Doty on Bennewitz's sightings, describing Miller as knowledgeable. However, Miller was actually a member of the 4602nd Intelligence Squadron, which had handled legwork for Project Blue Book in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Miller concluded Bennewitz was "paranoid schizophrenic," and Doty also reportedly doubted Bennewitz's claims. Bennewitz, who had mental health issues, coined the term "Extraterrestrial Biological Entities" or "EBES," which appeared in the bogus MJ12 and Aquarius documents. Bennewitz also claimed secret communications between the "EBES" and the U.S. government, jointly operating underground bases in New Mexico.

After meeting Doty, Moore circulated a "SECRET" message, purportedly a reply to Doty's report on his conference with Bennewitz and Miller. Dated November 17, 1980, this message contained the first mention of "MJ12" and "Project Aquarius." The article describes this message, which Moore claimed to have "retyped," as a "crude hoax" with numerous errors in format and preparation, indicating the hoaxer was unfamiliar with message formats. It contained contradictory classifications and caveats.

Richard Doty as the Primary Suspect

The article strongly suggests Richard Doty is the chief candidate for the hoax. Doty allegedly combined Bennewitz's claims and Moore's speculations about a secret control group (MJ12) and fed them back to Moore, first as a crude message, then as more refined "Executive Briefing" papers.

The Purported UFO Landing at Ellsworth AFB

At the January 1983 meeting in Albuquerque, Doty also revealed "hot" information about a purported UFO landing incident at Ellsworth AFB, S.D., claiming it was investigated by OSI, FBI, and classified, with parts still ongoing and involving nuclear weapons. This case first came to UFOlogy's attention via an anonymous letter to the National Enquirer in February 1978, describing a shoot-out with alien creatures on November 16, 1977. Reporter Bob Pratt investigated and found the charges groundless, concluding the Ellsworth incident was a hoax. Richard Doty was stationed at Ellsworth from 1976 to 1978 as a "Law Enforcement Flight Chief" and "Instructor."

Pratt felt he erred by giving a copy of the phony report to a UFOlogist, as it circulated widely without his disclaimer or the full story of his investigation.

Linda Howe's Encounter with Doty

TV documentary producer Linda Howe may have received the phony Ellsworth document. She expressed interest in the case to Peter Gersten, who arranged a meeting with Doty at Kirtland AFB on April 9, 1983. Howe met Doty, who showed her typed pages titled "Briefing Paper for the President of the United States" about unidentified flying vehicles. Doty stated he was asked by superiors to show it, allowed questions but no notes. The paper described crashed UFO discs at Aztec, Roswell, Kingman, and Mexico, retrieval of extraterrestrial bodies, and information from "Grays" about human evolution. It also outlined government efforts since the 1940s to understand E.T.s through projects like Sign, Grudge, Gleem, Pounce, and Blue Book, and listed current projects like Sigma and Snowbird.

Doty also claimed he would release thousands of feet of film from 1947-1964 showing crashed UFO discs and extraterrestrial bodies, supported by government confirmation. The term "Ebe" was used as a government acronym for "extraterrestrial biological entity/s."

Bill Moore's "Revelations" and CUFORN

As early as 1981, Bill Moore was telling Tracy Torme that if the world knew the results of U.S. UFO projects, there would be a "very bad reaction from very devout Christians." Torme passed these "revelations" to the Canadian U.F.O. Research Network (CUFORN) in 1982. CUFORN compiled these into a report titled "Information For Those With A 'Need To Know' Clearance Only."

According to CUFORN, Torme learned from Moore that "dead, preserved humanoids from crash-retrievals" and "two or three retrieved UFOs" were in secure places at Kirtland AFB's Manzano Advanced Weapons Storage Area. One crash occurred in the early 1970s, one at Roswell in 1947, and another in Kingman, Arizona, or Aztec, New Mexico.

Moore also had a twisted version of how the "crudely-hoaxed 'Aquarius'" message got into circulation. CUFORN reported that Moore claimed he left his briefcase unlocked at San Francisco International Airport in early 1983, and a copy of the teletype mentioning Aquarius was stolen. Peter Gersten, representing Citizen's Against UFO Secrecy, later appeared on ABC-TV's "Good Morning, America" and showed the teletype, according to Moore.

The article criticizes Moore's story about Gersten stealing the teletype as typical of his attempts to "promulgate mystique." Moore gave documents to Lee Graham, then acted as if Graham had received them from a "deep-throat" intelligence source. By circulating bogus messages and briefing papers and obscuring their source, Moore apparently hoped to establish validity that a straightforward release would not achieve.

Richard Doty's Codename and Departure from AFOSI

Moore also assigned codenames to his "sources." Richard Doty, before his retirement, was NCOIC of the Kirtland base investigations detachment and then NCOIC of AFOSI Det. 1406. The Air Force Office of Special Investigations is described as similar to a police detective branch, performing counterintelligence functions. Doty, codenamed "Falcon" by Moore, finished his career in administration and logistics at Lindsey AFB, Germany. Sources at Kirtland confirmed Doty was forced to leave AFOSI due to "financial irregularities."

Doty's Most Honest Statements

The article suggests the most honest statements Doty made were in letters to Barry Greenwood and Larry Bryant. Regarding showing Linda Howe a "presidential briefing paper," Doty stated, "First of all, I was not in a position to obtain any presidential briefing documents...I know of no secret Government..."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the deliberate fabrication and dissemination of false information within the UFO community, often referred to as "hoaxes" and "disinformation." The editorial stance is critical of these practices, exposing the methods used to create and spread these hoaxes, and identifying key individuals like Bill Moore and Richard Doty as central figures in these deceptions. The article aims to debunk specific claims and documents, such as the MJ12 and Aquarius papers, and the Ellsworth AFB incident, by tracing their origins and revealing their manufactured nature. The underlying message is that a significant portion of UFO lore has been intentionally manipulated for various purposes, including creating mystique and misleading researchers.

This document, spanning pages 11 through 20 of the publication 'HOAX', focuses on alleged disinformation and hoaxes within the UFO community. It critically examines the claims and actions of individuals involved in promoting sensational UFO narratives, particularly Richard Doty and Bill Moore.

The Claims of Richard Doty

The article begins by addressing disclaimers made by Richard Doty regarding his involvement in UFO investigations. It highlights that Doty's statements are characterized by inconsistency and contradiction. For instance, Doty's account of a meeting with Ms. Howe varied in detail regarding its duration and the number of supervisors present, with the numbers growing over time, suggesting embellishment. Doty also wrote to Patrick Huyghe and Robert Hastings, claiming to work for a government agency on investigations but not UFO research, and stating he no longer resided in New Mexico. However, the document asserts that Doty is actually employed as a highway patrolman for the New Mexico State Police and resides in Grants, New Mexico, under the name 'Rick' Doty.

Moore and Doty's 'Falcon' Project

The effort to publish "Falcon" Doty's MJ-12 and Aquarius narratives began in January 1982. At Bill Moore's request, Enquirer reporter Bob Pratt flew to Phoenix to discuss "Project Aquarius, MJ-12 and a number of other things." Pratt discovered that Moore's source was "Richard Doty, the AFOSI agent." Pratt and Moore decided to write a novel, passing the 'facts' as fiction, with Moore contributing the raw information. The plot centered on an AFOSI agent investigating the 'Ellsworth incident,' which Pratt found to be a hoax, but which Doty continued to promote. Doty eventually admitted to forging the incident report but insisted the alien shoot-out occurred.

The fictional book's draft was completed in the fall of 1983. Pratt received a copy with the name "Ronald L. Davis" as a third partner, a pseudonym to mask Doty's identity from publishers. Pratt states he never met or talked with Richard Doty and only knows of his involvement through Bill Moore.

Linda Howe's Involvement

Linda Howe met with Doty in April 1983. After returning to Denver, she received a call from Doty questioning why she told Bill Moore they had spent the night together, implying sexual activity. This interaction, though based on a falsehood, led to communication between Moore and Howe. Moore met Howe in Denver in August 1983, asking if she was working with MJ-12, a belief Doty had fostered. Moore also claimed to be working for the government and stated that Project Aquarius had been renamed Project Bluestand due to publicity.

Moore suggested to Howe that they could share information and collaborate on a book/movie project, while simultaneously writing a fictional novel with Bob Pratt. Howe, however, viewed her role as a conduit for government information as a patriotic duty and declined payment, only seeking reimbursement for expenses. Moore expressed his intention to make significant money.

Prior to meeting Doty, Howe was working on a documentary, "UFOs: The E.T. Factor." She conferred with Doty in April and May 1983 regarding thousands of feet of film depicting aliens and crashed discs that Doty promised to provide. Doty suggested Howe might be allowed to film an interview with a captured alien known as "EBE-3." Howe was advised by HBO to obtain signed releases from Secretaries of State and Defense, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Howe wrote to Doty in May 1983 seeking clarification on the government's intention and permission to interview EBE-1's companion, a retired Colonel.

Doty continued to embellish, telling Howe she would soon interview the Colonel, who had spent three years with EBE-1. However, Doty claimed it would be three months before Howe could screen the 68,000 feet of film and that she would need to sign security oaths.

In June 1984, Doty informed Howe he had been taken off the project. Howe later reported being approached by another man at Washington National Airport in late 1984, who showed government identification and vaguely mentioned "political conditions" preventing the release of material.

Brad Sparks and the Roswell Incident

Bill Moore approached UFOlogist Brad Sparks, known for his knowledge of the intelligence community and ability to sift through information. Moore asked Sparks about the validity of crashed saucer cases. Sparks indicated that only two cases showed promise: the Roswell incident of 1947 and another near the Texas/Mexico border in December 1950.

The article quotes from Moore's book, "The Roswell Incident," detailing a 1977 effort by CAUS, led by Brad Sparks, to obtain CIA UFO files through a lawsuit. The author disputes Moore's account, stating that Moore's claims are false and intended to inflate Sparks' role and denigrate the author. The author asserts that CAUS did not take over the suit and Sparks did not assume control.

Sparks' Departure from CAUS and Moore's 'Briefing Paper'

In mid-1979, Sparks requested the author resign as CAUS director, citing fiscal mismanagement. The author complied, tired of funding CAUS and Sparks' alleged jealousy. The author notes that Sparks failed to produce any newsletters and CAUS's legal efforts were dismissed.

According to Jerome Clark's account in Fate magazine, Moore was in a motel in upstate New York when he was given a bundle containing a document purported to be a briefing paper for President-elect Jimmy Carter about MJ-12, Project Aquarius, and "little gray men."

The 'Jimmy Carter Briefing Paper' and its Excuses

The article lists "Top Five List" excuses why Bill Moore could not produce the 'Jimmy Carter Briefing Paper':
#5. Photomat mixed up photos with predatory birds.
#4. Peter Gersten stole them from his briefcase.
#3. He gave the original negatives to Lee Graham, who won't return them.
#2. EBE-3 spilled strawberry ice cream on the negatives.
#1. The negatives are stored in the Manzano Advanced Weapons Storage Area at Kirtland, making retrieval difficult.

'Introducing Our New, Improved Briefing Paper'

In 1983, Bill Moore was active in multiple projects: writing a novel with Bob Pratt and Rick Doty about MJ-12/Aquarius matters, attempting to form a non-fiction duo with Linda Howe (with Doty as middleman), and teaming up with Stan Friedman for an update on the Roswell story.

By mid-1984, the novel had failed to sell. Moore then focused on presenting his information as fact. In December 1984, Jaime Shandera received a package containing a new "briefing paper" billed as prepared for "President-elect Eisenhower." This document contained a lengthy description of the Roswell incident, verifying Moore's contentions, and a sparse paragraph about a second incident in December 1950.

The December 1950 Incident

The "improved model" describes a second object impacting the earth at high speed in the El Indio-Guerrero area of the Texas-Mexico border on December 6, 1950. The object was almost totally incinerated upon arrival, and recovered material was transported to the A.E.C. facility at Sandia, New Mexico, for study.

The author questions the origin of this information, noting that in 1978, he signed a book deal with Jerome Clark to write "Under Intelligence Control," and had submitted a chapter about crashed saucers which included a presentation of a case he was investigating.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this section of 'HOAX' magazine are the alleged fabrication and dissemination of disinformation within the UFO community. The editorial stance is highly critical of individuals like Richard Doty and Bill Moore, accusing them of deliberately misleading the public and other researchers with invented stories, pseudonyms, and contradictory accounts. The magazine aims to expose these alleged hoaxes and present a more factual account of UFO research, highlighting the importance of critical thinking and verification of sources.

This document is a multi-part article titled "HOAX," spanning pages 21 through 30. It details the author's personal experiences and investigations into UFO-related claims, particularly focusing on the Roswell incident and alleged disinformation campaigns within the UFO community.

Roswell Incident Investigation

The author recounts his investigation into the Roswell incident, conducted in 1977 at the behest of Stan Friedman. His findings indicated that the recovered debris was from a balloon, aligning with the Air Force's official explanation. He used Roswell as an example to compare with another case he was developing, which he considered more substantial.

Book Deal Disputes and Manuscript Misappropriation

In June 1979, the author traveled to Hollywood to sell movie rights for a book titled "Under Intelligence Control." He found little interest in an unpublished book by unknown authors. He had been struggling to raise funds for his research and living expenses. Earlier in 1979, his agent refused his request to speak with the publisher about negotiating a better advance. In February, he began writing chapters, despite an original agreement where Clark was to write the book and he was to do the research. When he asked Clark to send chapters for the second stage of the advance, Clark refused, wanting to wait until the entire book was finished. The author was determined not to publish his crashed saucer case until it was thoroughly researched and substantiated.

In 1979, an agent suggested arranging a movie development deal, but the author first needed to legally separate the case from the book. Dissatisfied with Clark's and Brad Sparks' efforts, the author offered to buy his way out, repaying his share of the advance and turning over all related material, including his research, in exchange for excluding the crashed saucer case. His attorney also sought a legal release for him to pursue funding for the investigation.

Clark initially seemed receptive, but Sparks recommended foot-dragging, possibly hoping the author would offer a deal to get rid of them. Eventually, Clark and Sparks proceeded without the author, and their book was rejected by the publisher as "tedious and unreadable." They reportedly tried to market it as "UFO Wars" but it was also rejected. The author later learned that Clark had given or sold his manuscript to Bill Moore, possibly as an act of revenge.

Conflicts with Bill Moore and Stan Friedman

Bill Moore learned that the author had criticized his Roswell work, for which Moore and co-writer Charles Berlitz had received over $500,000. Moore famously told the author in 1980, "I'll bet you've heard you can't make money from UFOs. Well, I proved that wrong!"

In 1982, the author wrote a presentation manuscript on the crashed saucer case for Tim Scott, a TV guide editor. Scott sent it to Harper & Row, which rejected it, stating they did not fund research. Later, Stan Friedman contacted Peter Gersten to complain about the author circulating a "hoax" letter purportedly from Gersten. This letter acknowledged the author's responsibility for a FOIA suit against the CIA and expressed willingness to file a crashed saucer suit on his behalf. The author had included this letter in his presentation to Harper & Row, implying Friedman obtained a copy and was misled by Sparks or Moore regarding the author's role.

Friedman reacted by accusing the author of misdeeds, justifying his and Moore's alleged expropriation of the author's manuscript. Friedman taunted the author about the Roswell case. The author then contacted Harper & Row's legal department, threatening to sue if the manuscript was not returned. A protracted dispute followed, marked by accusations from Moore and Friedman. The author questions why they reacted so defensively and resorted to personal attacks rather than addressing the issues.

Friedman is described as using "Klassian tactics," similar to Philip Klass, employing smear campaigns and threats of legal action. Friedman also called Barry Greenwood "stupid, lazy and inept" for questioning the MJ-12 release.

Moore allegedly obtained copies of two manuscripts the author wrote about a crashed saucer case reportedly occurring in December 1950. The first manuscript, obtained from Clark, placed the incident near Laredo, Texas. The second, from a Harper & Row editor, dated the incident between December 5-8, 1950, near Del Rio, Texas.

Analysis of "Briefing Papers" and Disinformation

The "briefing paper" circulated by Moore presented a date of "06 December 1950" and located the crash in the "El Indio - Guerrero (sic) area of the Texas - Mexican (sic) boder (sic)," halfway between Laredo and Del Rio. The author notes that no witnesses support the El Indio location, while several verify the Del Rio site. Moore's paper also claimed the saucer was "almost totally incinerated," which contradicts eyewitness accounts of recovery. The author attributes these discrepancies to Bill Moore's influence, suggesting he created the documents based on the author's manuscripts and Brad Sparks' input.

In 1985, Moore began leaking contents of the 'briefing papers,' some with blacked-out portions, to UFOlogists like Lee Graham. This led to widespread rumors in the UFO community about captured aliens, downed discs, and government communication with aliens, using terms like "EBE's," "Grays," and "Highs." This campaign is compared to the CIA's 1954 "Operation Success" in Guatemala, a clandestine psychological warfare operation.

Moore's version of "Operation Success" lasted nearly two years, allowing time to plant a bogus document, the "Cutler memo," and a purported directive signed by President Truman instructing the Secretary of Defense to refer to the matter as "Operation Majestic Twelve."

According to a Fate article, Richard "Falcon" Doty claimed visitation by nine extraterrestrial races, focusing on "little gray-skinned people" from Zeta Reticuli who have influenced human evolution and religion for 25,000 years. Doty also spoke of Majestic-12 and Project Aquarius, naming John Poindexter, Harold Brown, and James Scheslinger as knowledgeable individuals. He described four groups conducting secret UFO investigations in the US and mentioned the Roswell and Texas-Mexico crashes, stating the occupants' bodies were "remarkably uncomplicated, with relatively few internal organs."

The "briefing papers" and Doty's revelations are criticized for lacking scientific detail. Doty's description of aliens is noted as simple, and the 'briefing paper' conveniently explains the Roswell craft's propulsion system was destroyed in the crash, relieving Moore of the need to explain it. The papers are described as limited in detail, focusing on the Kenneth Arnold sighting rather than "top secret" matters.

Large portions of the "Eisenhower" "briefing paper" were reportedly blacked-out by Moore and his associates, with no explanation for these censorships. The debate over the material's validity centers on minor issues raised by Friedman and others.

"THREE PAPERS": NO WAITING

In April and June 1987, Moore began releasing material to the public after two years of circulating 'documents' and Doty's UFO narratives. A press conference in Burbank received little media attention. In June, Stan Friedman appeared on ABC-TV's "Nightline" with the documents.

In September 1987, Robert "Bob" Collins, an Air Force captain, contacted Linda Howe about a 'briefing paper.' Howe recognized it as similar to one Doty had shown her in April 1983. Collins stated he obtained it from "Bill Moore," whom he met regularly and who categorized him as a "source." Moore gave Collins the codename "Condor," who appeared on TV as a "government scientist" discussing aliens and a secret underground base in Nevada. Collins has since resigned from the Air Force.

Moore apparently possesses three separate 'briefing papers': the "Eisenhower" paper, the "Carter" paper photographed in a New York motel, and the one "Condor" quoted, which appears to be Doty's. The author questions why only one of these papers has been released.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this article are deception, disinformation, and the manipulation of information within the UFO community. The author presents a critical stance, exposing what he believes to be fabricated stories, personal vendettas, and deliberate attempts to mislead the public and fellow researchers. He emphasizes the importance of thorough research and substantiation, contrasting it with the sensationalism and alleged hoaxes promoted by figures like Moore and Doty. The article highlights the author's personal struggles and conflicts arising from his pursuit of truth in a field rife with controversy and alleged deception.

This document comprises pages from a publication titled "HOAX," specifically issues 31 through 34, covering events and controversies primarily in the 1980s related to UFOlogy. The content critically examines alleged hoaxes and disinformation campaigns within the UFO community, focusing on the actions of individuals like William Moore and Richard Doty.

The Controversy of Moore's Material

The initial pages discuss a controversy that "reared its ugly head in September 1987" when Barry Greenwood and Larry Fawcett of CAUS published their investigation, "JUST CAUSE #13." This report aimed to debunk material released by William Moore, but instead of being accepted, Greenwood and Fawcett were criticized. The author posits that these two individuals were among the few UFOlogical leaders who acted responsibly, suggesting that most others either aided the hoax through credulity or failed to see the truth. The author likens UFOlogy's situation to that of children at a magic show, easily distracted by smoke and mirrors, and slow to understand the trick once revealed.

Chronology of Events

The bulk of the document is a detailed chronology of events from September 1980 to November 1988, tracing the alleged dissemination of disinformation:

• September 1980: Richard Doty begins meeting with William Moore after a radio interview, leading to frequent encounters. Around the same time, Doty meets Paul Bennewitz, who claims UFOs are active near the Manzano Weapons Area and are in league with the U.S. government. Bennewitz's family later has him committed.
• 1981: Doty allegedly combines Bennewitz's stories with Moore's speculations, presenting them to Moore as "super-secret" leaks. These stories are later shared with Canadian UFOlogists.
• January 1982: Moore contacts Bob Pratt, a National Enquirer reporter, to discuss sensitive information. They meet in Phoenix and decide to write a fictional novel about an AFOSI agent investigating the 'Ellsworth incident,' based on Doty's information.
• November 1982: Barry Greenwood and Larry Fawcett view a TV documentary by Ron Lakis, obtaining details of a "SECRET" AFOSI report that had apparently been given to Moore by Doty. They submit a FOIA request.
• December 1982: A report, now marked "FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY," is released from Kirtland, detailing Doty's meetings with Bennewitz about purported UFO photos at Kirtland.
• January 1983: A meeting in Albuquerque with Ron Lakis, William Moore, Richard Doty, and Peter Gersten occurs. Doty promotes the 'Ellsworth incident,' MJ-12, and Aquarius information. Moore asks Gersten not to mention Project Aquarius, claiming the information was given in confidence by Doty. Doty reportedly offers to sell information to Gersten, who declines.
• April 1983: TV producer Linda Howe meets Doty at Kirtland. Doty claims his superiors want him to show Howe a "Presidential Briefing Paper" on crashed discs, MJ-12, and Aquarius, and offers 68,000 feet of film.
• April 1983 (continued): Doty calls Howe, leading to Howe contacting Moore about a fib Doty told. Howe and Moore begin discussing working together on a book and TV project based on Doty's information.
• April/May 1983: Howe and Doty confer by phone. Doty promises Howe access to a retired Colonel who was allegedly a companion to the first captured alien ('EBE-1'), but requires her to wait three months and undergo security checks.
• June 1983: Doty informs Howe she has been "taken off the project," leaving her with HBO.
• August 1983: Moore visits Howe, implying he works with the government and suggesting they team up for a big project, while simultaneously working on a fictional novel with Bob Pratt. Moore expresses a desire to make significant money. Around the same time, Moore asks Brad Sparks about valid crashed saucer cases; Sparks names only Roswell and a 1950 Texas-Mexico case.
• Month unknown 1983: Moore receives a 'briefing paper' in a motel, allegedly for a "newly-elected President Jimmy Carter," detailing MJ-12, Project Aquarius, and 'little gray men.' The article notes vagueness about the date and suggests Moore might have forged the documents.
• June/July 1984: A book deal with Bob Pratt falls through, and the novel is shelved. Moore intensifies efforts to sell Doty's stories as fact.
• December 1984: Jaime Shandera, a film producer working with Moore, receives a package containing a 'briefing paper' for "President-elect Eisenhower," detailing recovered UFOs and the formation of the "Majestic 12" group.
• 1985: Moore begins circulating stories that he is a conduit for ultrasecret UFO material. He shares censored documents with individuals like Lee Graham.
• May 1986: Lee Graham submits an FOIA request to the Defense Investigative Service (DIS) to validate 'briefing papers' from Moore. Graham claims the source approached him for AFOSI to disseminate information to convince the public that UFO phenomena were extraterrestrial. Graham also claims Moore showed him an identification card, which Moore later dismissed as a joke, stating he only showed his MUFON membership card.
• April 1987: Moore partially releases the 'briefing papers' in his FOCUS newsletter, attributing the "Aquarius documents" to Lee Graham, who reportedly got them from an intelligence source (identified as Moore).
• June 1987: Stan Friedman appears on ABC-TV's "Nightline" with the documents.
• September 1987: CAUS officials Barry Greenwood and Larry Fawcett criticize the 'briefing papers' in "JUST CAUSE #13."
• September/October 1987: Jerome Clark provides a platform for Moore and Friedman to respond in the International UFO Reporter.
• November 1988: The TV special "UFO Cover-up--Live" airs, described as a ratings disaster. Producer Brubaker contacted Moore and Friedman after hearing them on a radio show, leading to the idea for the cover-up show.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this section of "HOAX" magazine are government disinformation, the manipulation of UFOlogy through fabricated stories, and the critical examination of alleged secret projects like MJ-12 and Aquarius. The editorial stance is clearly skeptical of the claims promoted by individuals like Moore and Doty, and supportive of those who attempt to expose these alleged hoaxes, such as Greenwood and Fawcett. The publication appears to advocate for a more rational and evidence-based approach to UFO research, contrasting it with what it perceives as widespread credulity and susceptibility to deception within the UFO community.