CENAP Infoline - no 060

Magazine Overview

This issue of cenap-infoline, dated June 30, 1997, focuses on the "Roswell-Aliens: Die chronologische Konfusion!" (Roswell-Aliens: The Chronological Confusion!). The cover features a stylized US Air Force emblem, highlighting the 50th anniversary of the Roswell incident.

The Pentagon's Roswell Report and Media Reactions

The article details the Pentagon's press conference on June 24, 1997, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the alleged Roswell UFO crash. The USAF released a new report aiming to debunk UFO theories and put an end to the "endless story" of the UFO discussion. The report suggested that the events of 1947 were related to Project Mogul and that the "aliens" seen were actually test dummies.

Several media outlets covered the event. NBC's "Night News" featured a segment called "The Roswell Files," which recounted the case and mentioned multiple crash sites. The report was leaked to NBC prior to the press conference, intended to "conclude" the Roswell case on its 50th anniversary. The city of Roswell, which has benefited economically from the UFO legend through tourism, reacted with "dismay" to the report.

German television also covered the story. On RTL, "Punkt 12" discussed the "UFO cult," with Professor Harald Lesch from the University of Munich suggesting that most UFO sightings are optical illusions, such as cloud formations, balloons, or other light phenomena. He linked the UFO boom to the rise of science fiction. ZDF's "Hallo Deutschland" presented an animated UFO and interviewed Michael Hesemann, a German UFO expert, who noted that 1,800 UFO cases are documented in Germany, though most have mundane explanations. Professor Gerhard Neukum stated that no UFO description has withstood scrutiny, attributing sightings to reflected light, disco lights, or balloons.

RTL Aktuell correctly identified the private pilot's sighting as the beginning of the UFO era but depicted Roswell as the "UFO capital of the USA," which has capitalized on the legend. The report also featured a UFO believer from Phoenix, Arizona, who saw lights on March 13, 1997, which the article suggests were miniature hot air balloons.

CNN's "World News" offered "A Closer Look" at the Roswell mystery, focusing on the "strange wreckage" found by rancher Mac Brazel. The article explains that the balloon used was a spy device for detecting Soviet nuclear tests. A new explanation for the alien sightings suggested they were dummies dropped from balloons during scientific tests. Ex-Colonel Richard Weaver admitted these tests occurred years later, causing confusion. Elaine Douglas of MUFON dismissed the report as "absolute nonsense" and a lie.

CNN's "Insight" program also covered the "Roswell Mystery," showing USAF footage of tests with saucer-shaped objects and balloons. Journalist Jonathan Mann stated the new report was based on "serious investigation" but doubted it would end the controversy. The original find by Mac Brazel was explained by the first Roswell report, but UFO fans mobilized, leading to the USAF's further investigation and the dummy explanation.

USAF Colonel John Haynes presented the official Pentagon briefing, stating the USAF's final word on the incident. He reiterated confidence in the previous explanation that the debris was from a balloon and a kite-shaped radar reflector. A video presentation showed NASA and USAF materials, including protective covers for probes that resembled saucers, leading to laughter.

Further Investigations and Theories

Stratospheric balloon footage was shown, related to dummy tests and Project Mogul. Colonel Haynes explained that the new report was prompted by a desire for more visual material for a new edition of the Project Mogul report. He reiterated that the 1947 events were related to Project Mogul and had nothing to do with alien explanations. When asked about evidence of extraterrestrial UFOs, Haynes humorously related it to a question from his daughter, stating that Area 51 is a secret facility for classified matters.

CNN and TIME conducted a poll showing 65% believed a UFO crashed in Roswell and 80% believed the US government was hiding information. The ZDF report called the UFO phenomenon a "cosmic folklore" and a "business" for tabloids and writers. The four-million-US-dollar Roswell report aimed to debunk this "mother of all UFO myths."

Walter Haut, who drives a car with the license plate "Mr. UFO," called the dummy explanation a "cover-up." The ZDF moderation sarcastically noted that this perspective allowed for "good business."

NBC reported that the official US government line was "no aliens, but dummies." Don Ecker of UFO Magazine called the USAF report unsatisfactory. The NBC reporter noted that "UFO fanatics" would not be swayed by any evidence against their beliefs.

The USAF's Official Stance and UFOlogist Counterarguments

The USAF's "Roswell-Report: Case Closed" press release stated that the recovered debris belonged to Project Mogul. The new report detailed the identification of the origins of claims about alien bodies in Roswell, noting that much of the documentation was unclassified and available in scientific archives.

The article highlights that the USAF's explanation for the Roswell incident involved high-altitude research balloons and anthropomorphic test dummies. These dummies were dropped from balloons to study how pilots and astronauts could safely parachute from great heights. Reports of military units recovering a crashed saucer and its occupants were actually descriptions of personnel involved in recovering these dummies.

The USAF stated that the 1947 incident was misinterpreted due to a combination of misunderstandings by those unfamiliar with USAF activities and deliberate distortions. The "aliens" were test dummies, and the "flying saucer" was a secret weather balloon with a saucer-shaped radar reflector, part of Project Mogul to monitor Soviet nuclear weapons development.

Colonel John Haynes explained that the confusion arose from people conflating events from 1954-1959 with the 1947 Roswell incident. He expressed confidence in the report and stated there was no evidence of a cover-up. Weaver also stated that the Roswell incident was not mentioned in any national security committee meetings at the time.

Deon Crosby, Director of the International UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell, called the report an "insult to humanity." Jerry Clark of the Center for UFO Studies questioned why the Air Force was now explaining the "alien bodies" and suggested the explanation was not convincing. He believes the USAF is trying to explain everything away under duress.

Regarding Area 51, Haynes stated it was a classified facility at Groom Lake, but he had no further information. He also mentioned that the Phoenix lights case was not being investigated by the USAF as they no longer investigate UFOs.

Kent Jeffrey, former head of the International Roswell Initiative, no longer believes a flying saucer crashed in Roswell. Jerry Clark is now focusing on other cases, such as the Kenneth Arnold sighting. Peter Davenport of the National UFO Reporting Center highlighted the Phoenix lights case as a dramatic UFO sighting.

Frank Kaufmann, an 81-year-old man, claimed to have seen an extraterrestrial spaceship and dead aliens near Roswell 50 years prior. He described the bodies as human-like with ashen faces, about 1.65 meters tall, with large eyes and no hair. Colonel Haynes stated that Kaufmann's and similar incidents contributed to the confusion.

UFOlogist Reactions and Skepticism

UFO proponents criticized the report. The Fund for UFO Research (FUFOR) argued that the USAF was making itself ridiculous by claiming witnesses mistook dummies for "creatures from outer space." The article counters that witnesses might not have known about these dummies, leading to confusion.

Colonel Richard Weaver dismissed the possibility of a government conspiracy to hide a UFO sighting in Roswell, stating the government could not maintain such a conspiracy for so long.

Deon Crosby stated the report raised more questions than answers and that the USAF dummies looked artificial. She noted that Roswell had become a focal point for believers in extraterrestrial life, with up to 100,000 people expected for the anniversary.

Frank Kurtz, editor of "The Complete Roswell UFO Encyclopedia," called the balloon explanation "obvious lies" and stated the USAF's current explanation made it difficult for the public to believe the government is telling the truth. He questioned who the real "dummies" were in this situation.

The Ongoing Debate and Future of UFO Research

The Chicago Tribune reported that Colonel John Haynes was convinced the report was accurate and the final word. The report included video and photo material to illustrate how aviation materials could be mistaken for UFOs. Haynes explained the time discrepancies in witness accounts by suggesting people tend to "compress" details when retelling stories.

One factor noted is that the USAF cannot explain why the "beings" in the UFO legend were described as smaller than humans, while the test dummies were larger. The article suggests this could be related to the "Greys" in abduction stories. No evidence of an actual UFO crash or recovered aliens was found, leading to the conclusion that the Roswell legend likely originated from later dummy experiments.

UPI reported that Roswell was bracing for an "Eartlings invasion" for its 50th anniversary, with hotels fully booked and visitors expected from around the world. The event was described as a mix of carnival and serious lectures, with 12 experts scheduled to speak.

MUFON issued a press release criticizing the Pentagon's "cover-up of the cosmic event" and warning of "incalculable consequences." They cited the 1961 NASA Brookings Report, "Proposed Studies on the Implications of Peaceful Space Activities for Human Affairs," which suggested withholding evidence of extraterrestrial life.

The article contrasts this with the Mars meteorite incident, where NASA held a press conference to discuss findings, suggesting openness rather than secrecy. MUFON also highlighted astronaut Gordon Cooper's experiences and Edgar Mitchell's call for a congressional hearing on UFOs.

Mark Leibovich of the Mercury News reported that Walter Haut felt like a victim of "cosmic folklore," constantly bothered by people obsessed with extraterrestrial life. He noted the fascination fueled by TV shows like "The X-Files" and films like "ID4." Haut pointed out that the 25th anniversary of Roswell went unnoticed because the "ufological" aspect of the case did not yet exist.

Roswell has become a symbolic framework for modern beliefs about extraterrestrial life, leading the Pentagon to dismiss the issue as "ridiculous." Haut described the situation as the "greatest possible PR damage" for the Air Force and predicted a drop in expected visitors for the anniversary, turning it into a "UFO-Woodstock" with "authentic ground samples" sold for profit.

Pastor Jim Suttle of Calvary Chapel in Roswell organized a conference to discuss the UFO phenomenon from a Christian perspective, viewing UFOs as a tool of Satan. He cautioned against interpreting the Bible in ufological terms. Pastor Lonnie Owens called the UFO cult dangerous, referencing the Heaven's Gate tragedy.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently highlights the conflict between official government explanations and the beliefs of UFO enthusiasts. The USAF's reports are presented as attempts to provide rational explanations (weather balloons, test dummies, misinterpretations) for the Roswell incident and other UFO sightings. Conversely, UFOlogists and believers often view these explanations as cover-ups and dismiss them as attempts to hide the truth about extraterrestrial visitation. The article emphasizes the role of media in shaping public perception, noting how sensationalism and the desire for publicity can fuel the UFO myth. The economic impact of the Roswell legend, particularly on tourism, is also a recurring theme. The editorial stance appears to lean towards skepticism regarding UFO claims, presenting the USAF's explanations as logical, while acknowledging the persistent nature of the UFO belief system and the challenges in definitively closing the case for believers.