CAUS Bulletin - No 05

Magazine Overview

This issue of the CAUS Bulletin, dated September 1986, focuses on themes of government secrecy, potential UFO cover-ups, and the implications of advanced military technology. The editorial section and several articles delve into specific incidents and policy decisions that raise questions about transparency and the handling of classified information.

Editorial: Secret Aircraft Crash Near Sequoia National Forest

The editorial, penned by Larry Fawcett, discusses a reported crash of a top-secret aircraft in the Sequoia National Forest in July 1986. Newspapers, TV, and radio stations covered the event, noting that the Air Force declared the area off-limits and the airspace restricted. The initial speculation, fueled by rumors, pointed to an F-19 Stealth fighter, though the Air Force would only confirm that the aircraft was not an F-19 but could not identify it. Fawcett draws a parallel to the handling of UFO incidents, questioning the official narrative given that UFOs are officially denied.

Further interviews with witnesses in August 1986 revealed more details. Farmers in the area were warned to keep their cattle away from the restricted zone. One individual reported their truck being checked with Geiger counters by Air Force personnel, and another witness described Air Force personnel guarding the area armed with M-16s and wearing blue berets, reminiscent of UFO crash retrieval teams. The crashed aircraft was reportedly removed on flat-bed trucks, covered by tarpaulins, similar to UFO retrieval accounts. Fawcett questions why a test vehicle would be the only one in the air, lacking support aircraft, and why such testing would occur over a public area like the Sequoia National Forest instead of a secure testing range like Edwards AFB or the Tonopah Test Range.

Fawcett concludes that the situation presents a public relations problem and that the inconsistency in the public handling of the incident, whether it was an unknown aerial object or a Stealth test, only serves to arouse suspicions. He notes the similarities to past UFO crash/retrieval incidents and suggests that procedures for investigating unusual aircraft remain consistent, implying that hidden information may exist in government files.

Project Aquarius Confirmed?

This section reports on responses received from the National Security Agency (NSA) regarding FOIA requests for information on a "Project Aquarius." Two responses, one from March 3, 1986, and another from April 15, 1986, are discussed. The initial NSA response stated that Project Aquarius does not deal with unidentified aerial objects and therefore no information could be provided. A significant fee of $15,000 was quoted for a search, which the requester could not meet. After narrowing the scope, a subsequent NSA letter indicated that the located document remained classified TOP SECRET under Executive Order 12356, due to the potential for "exceptionally grave damage to the national security" if disclosed.

The article highlights that while the NSA claims Project Aquarius is unrelated to unidentified aerial objects, its highly classified nature and the NSA's previous denial of knowing anything about it to CAUS raise suspicions. The authors ponder whether Project Aquarius might deal with "identified aerial objects" or other sensitive matters, urging readers to "stay tuned."

NORAD Exempts Itself From FOIA

This article, reprinted from The Boston Globe and authored by Fred Kaplan, details a ruling by the Air Force that exempts the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) from the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This decision means that citizens can no longer request declassification of secret documents related to NORAD's operations, particularly those concerning antisatellite weapons and the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI).

The article suggests that this far-reaching decision was motivated by a desire to shield Canada's conservative government from political embarrassment. William M. Arkin, a researcher with the Institute for Policy Studies, is quoted stating that this exemption is a "back-door way to deny information" about controversial programs. Arkin had previously provided documents to The New York Times indicating that the US military had presidential authority to deploy nuclear weapons in eight foreign countries without their governments' knowledge, including Canada, which led to a political crisis.

Further documents uncovered by Arkin linked Canada to US nuclear strategies, causing outrage among Canadian politicians who felt their country's sovereignty was compromised. Many of these documents were obtained through Arkin's FOIA requests to NORAD. Defense Department officials confirmed that shortly after these controversies, the Canadian government requested NORAD's exemption from FOIA.

The legal basis for the exemption is that NORAD is considered a joint US-Canadian "international organization." However, Arkin notes that he had previously received once-classified NORAD documents without such an exemption being cited. The article also points out that a memo from the Air Force litigation director cited NORAD's status as an international organization as the reason for denial.

Arkin also revealed that a list of 364 cooperative arrangements between the US and Canada, provided to the Canadian Parliament, omitted eight politically sensitive arrangements. Four of these dealt with nuclear weapons, and two with nuclear warships and space-related cooperation. The article suggests that Canada is becoming increasingly integrated into US strategies for nuclear warfare without having access to the necessary information to assess its commitment and control.

Arkin believes the exemption of NORAD from FOIA is part of a general policy to "keep out of the public debate politically sensitive material."

'Stealth' Jet Said to Crash in California

This article, from the Boston Globe dated July 12, 1986, reports on the crash of an Air Force plane, believed to be a Lockheed "Stealth" jet fighter, in rugged terrain near Bakersfield, California. The crash resulted in the death of the pilot and prompted an extraordinary news blackout. The Air Force declared the crash site and airspace a "national security area," restricting access for the press and public.

Details about the craft were scarce, with officials only confirming that the plane had crashed and its lone crew member was killed. Military officials declined to identify the aircraft type, its origin, or its mission. However, congressional sources suggested it was an F-19 Stealth fighter, known for its advanced electronic technology and aerodynamic design to evade radar detection. An investigator on the House Energy and Commerce Committee's oversight and investigations subcommittee confirmed it was likely the F-19 and noted the committee's ongoing investigation into alleged security leaks on the F-19 program at Lockheed California Co.

An Air Force source indicated the plane reportedly exploded in mid-air, which could explain why the pilot could not eject and why there was little wreckage. The explosion was reportedly witnessed by a pilot in a chase aircraft, a normal procedure for testing secret aircraft. Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger reportedly denied a request from Congressman John D. Dingell for a briefing on the crash.

High-level Air Force officials at the Pentagon stated the crashed airplane was not a Stealth bomber but would not comment on whether it was a Stealth fighter. The article also notes the availability of a Testor company model of the F-19 stealth jet, which experts believe could be the real thing, raising questions about how such sensitive information is leaked.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of CAUS Bulletin are government secrecy, the potential for cover-ups related to unidentified aerial phenomena, and the implications of advanced military technology. The editorial stance is critical of official narratives that deny the existence of UFOs and questions the transparency of military operations. The articles highlight instances where information is withheld or classified, suggesting a pattern of obfuscation by government agencies. The bulletin encourages readers to remain skeptical and to question official explanations, particularly when they seem inconsistent or lack transparency. The availability of a model of the F-19 Stealth fighter, despite its classified nature, is used as an example of how sensitive information can become public, contrasting with the secrecy surrounding potential UFO incidents.