CENAP-REPORT

Magazine Overview

Title: CENAP-REPORT
Issue: Nr. 63
Volume: 6. Jahrgang/H5
Date: Mai 1981
Publisher: CENAP
Country: Germany
Language: German

This issue of CENAP-REPORT, dated May 1981, focuses on debunking a famous UFO incident that was actually an elaborate April Fool's joke. The cover features a striking image and the headline "MISTER X WAR EIN APRILSCHERZ ! UNTERTASSENABSTURZ HAT NIE STATTGEFUNDEN !" (Mister X was an April Fool's Joke! UFO Crash Never Happened!). The report aims to expose the sensationalism surrounding UFO phenomena and the methods used by some authors to promote unsubstantiated claims.

The 'Mister X' Incident: An April Fool's Joke Revealed

The central theme of this issue is the investigation by Klaus Webner into the 'Mister X' incident, which was popularized by Charles Berlitz and William Moore in their book 'The Roswell Incident'. Webner reveals that the story of a UFO crash near Wiesbaden in July 1947, and the subsequent capture of an alien, was a fabrication by the German newspaper 'Wiesbadener Tagblatt'.

The Original Hoax

On April 1, 1950, the 'Wiesbadener Tagblatt' published a sensational article detailing a UFO crash and the mysterious 'Mister X' being housed at the Neroberghotel in Wiesbaden. The article included fabricated details about the alien's appearance (one-legged, four-fingered hands, large eyes) and the efforts by American military forces to keep the event secret. The newspaper also published 'photographic evidence', which was later revealed to be a montage created by photographer Hans Scheffler.

The Creation of the Hoax

Klaus Webner's research, conducted in April 1981, involved speaking with the original editor, Wilhelm Sprunkel, and the photographer, Hans Scheffler. Sprunkel admitted that the story was conceived as an April Fool's joke, inspired by existing UFO reports which he did not take seriously. To make the hoax more convincing, Sprunkel collaborated with an American liaison officer who provided two American soldiers to pose in the staged photographs. Hans Scheffler then created the 'evidence' by photographing the soldiers and the Wiesbaden landmark Marktkirche, and then using photo manipulation techniques, including drawing and retouching, to create the illusion of a UFO occupant and craft.

The 'Mister X' Actor

Remarkably, the 'Mister X' figure in the photographs was actually Peter Scheffler, the 5-year-old son of the photographer, Hans Scheffler. The transformation into an 'alien' was achieved through retouching and the use of props like a gas mask and a hose.

The Spread of the Hoax

The 'Wiesbadener Tagblatt' article gained significant attention, even being reprinted by the American weekly 'Wiesbaden Post'. A foreign journalist also attempted to purchase the publication rights for the 'Mister X' photos, highlighting the perceived authenticity of the hoax at the time. Sprunkel had to spend 20 minutes convincing the journalist that it was merely an April Fool's joke.

Berlitz and Moore's Involvement

Webner explains how the fabricated photos and story eventually found their way to Charles Berlitz and William Moore. The photos were sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the USA, where they were filed away. Years later, when regulations allowed for the public release of UFO-related documents, a company called UFO INFORMATION NETWORK acquired these FBI files. Berlitz and Moore then obtained copies of these poor-quality photos and used them, along with a drawing by Lawrence Blazey, in their book 'The Roswell Incident', presenting them as genuine evidence.

Criticism of UFO Literature

Webner criticizes Berlitz and Moore for their 'ignorance and naivety', suggesting their work is driven by commercial interests rather than genuine research. He argues that if proper research had been conducted, the book would not have been published. He also points out that many UFO stories are rooted in hoaxes and deceptions, and that people often fail to see this due to 'pseudoreligious blindness' or a desire to believe in science fiction.

Available Materials

Klaus Webner offers various materials related to his investigation for sale, including black and white and color photographs of the original hoax setup, and a cassette tape containing the full newspaper article and interviews with Sprunkel and Scheffler.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine strongly advocates for critical thinking and rigorous investigation in the field of UFO research. It condemns sensationalism, deception, and the commercialization of unsubstantiated claims. The editorial stance is that UFO phenomena should be approached with skepticism and that genuine research, like Webner's, is crucial to uncovering the truth behind alleged sightings and incidents. The issue highlights how easily hoaxes can be perpetuated and amplified by media and authors who prioritize sensationalism over factual accuracy. The article implicitly criticizes the lack of thoroughness in the work of authors like Berlitz and Moore, suggesting that they failed to conduct basic research to verify their sources.

This issue of the Wiesbadener Stadtnachrichten, dated Wednesday, April 22, 1981, focuses on debunking UFO phenomena and exposing the origins of some widely circulated UFO stories. The main article, "Ein Tagblatt-Aprilscherz im Archiv des FBI" (A Tagblatt April Fools' Joke in the FBI Archive), reveals how a fabricated story from the April 1, 1950, edition of the Wiesbadener Tagblatt ended up in the FBI's archives and was later presented as a factual UFO report in a book by Charles Berlitz.

The Wiesbaden Tagblatt April Fools' Joke

Wilhelm Sprunkel, the author, recounts how the "flying saucer" story was conceived as an April Fools' prank. The idea was to create a sensational report about flying saucers seen over Wiesbaden. The newspaper's photographer, Hans Scheffler, was instrumental in creating the visual elements. They used the illuminated fountain of the Kurhaus as the "flying saucers" and staged photographs with Scheffler's five-year-old son, Peter, as a supposed alien ("Mister X"), with police officers escorting him near the Neroberg Temple. The local military liaison officer and even the US General Headquarters in Heidelberg found the prank amusing and gave their approval.

Sprunkel emphasizes that the FBI, while archiving the report, likely did not consider it a genuine UFO incident, as it was kept for 30 years for security reasons. The article criticizes the book "Ufos und fliegende Untertassen" for presenting this prank as a factual account, alongside other well-known cases like the "Roosevelt Incident."

Debunking the Aztec and Roswell Incidents

The magazine then addresses the alleged UFO crash in Aztec, New Mexico. The author cites researcher McClellan, who interviewed locals, including the then-deputy sheriff Bruce Sullivan, who had no recollection of such an event. The article dismisses Frank Scully's sensational reporting on the Aztec crash as a hoax. It also touches upon the Roswell, New Mexico incident, referencing Donald H. Menzel's book "Flying Saucers." Menzel is quoted as having spoken to witnesses who described the objects as "luminous, yellow soap bubbles." An Air Force officer is quoted by Menzel expressing skepticism about hiding evidence of extraterrestrial visitors, suggesting that if proof existed, they would be shown to Congress.

FBI Archives and Document Analysis

The article presents excerpts from FBI archives, including a report from the New Orleans Port of Embarkation dated May 23, 1950. This report summarizes information received regarding photographs of a "flying saucer" and a "man from Mars" in custody. The source of the information is described as having served five years in federal penitentiary. The report notes that the photographs were allegedly taken with a special infrared machine and that the "saucers" emitted a high-frequency sound. The location of the photographs is stated to be Wiesbaden, Germany.

Another section details a telex from FBI Dallas dated July 8, 1947, concerning a "Flying Disk." The document quality is noted as poor, making some details illegible.

UFO Congresses and Contactee Experiences

The magazine then shifts to discuss experiences shared at a DUIST Congress in 1960, which it characterizes as a "world of fairy tales." It highlights the claims of a woman from Goslar who allegedly traveled to the moon with "planetarians" from another star system. Her account involves a spaceship, a "handsome man" named Ramon, and observations of the moon's surface. Another account from Reinhold Schmidt of Hollywood describes a trip to the North Pole in a spaceship from Saturn, where he claimed to have seen Russian submarines involved in building nuclear missile bases. The article also mentions a claim about a "wonder stone" from Venus and a supposed cure for cancer.

Re-entry Phenomenon vs. UFOs

Finally, the issue features an article titled "Leuchterscheinung vom 1.11.1980" (Luminous Phenomenon from 1.11.1980). This section describes an amateur astronomer's photograph of a luminous object identified as a re-entry. The object, captured in the constellation Cygnus, is described as having a strong radiation in the red spectrum. While its shape is compared to a comet, its structure and brightness suggest it might be a meteor or burning space debris. The article distinguishes this phenomenon from UFOs/UAPs, emphasizing that re-entries are a known atmospheric event.

CRS Report Special Nr. 4/1981

The magazine also announces the publication of CRS Nr. 4/1981, a special report focusing on UFO sightings in the USA. It lists several topics covered, including "Lakeland Man," "credible witnesses," "Dresser," "UFO sightings worldwide," and "unexplained night lights." The CRS report is available for purchase or as part of a subscription.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The overall stance of the magazine in this issue is skeptical towards sensational UFO claims. It actively seeks to debunk widely publicized UFO incidents by tracing their origins to hoaxes, misidentifications, or fabricated stories. The editorial approach highlights the importance of critical analysis and factual investigation in understanding phenomena often attributed to extraterrestrial visitors. The magazine aims to inform readers by distinguishing between genuine scientific observations and unsubstantiated claims or elaborate pranks.