CENAP Report - No 156

Magazine Overview

Title: CENAP REPORT
Issue: Nr.156
Volume: 2.89
Date: February 1989
Publisher: CENAP-MANNHEIM
Country: Germany
Language: German
Price: DM 3,90

This issue of the CENAP REPORT focuses on the alleged UFO sightings and encounters of former US President Jimmy Carter. The cover features a dramatic image of a UFO over Kansas with the headline 'UFO Will Crash During Kansas Tornado,' hinting at the sensational content within.

CENAP: Central Research Network for Extraordinary Aerial Phenomena

The magazine introduces CENAP as a private, independent institution dedicated to investigating UFO phenomena. It highlights CENAP's activities since 1976, including investigations into approximately 380 reported UFO sightings. CENAP aims to find natural explanations for sightings, labeling 'UFO stimuli' when successful. The organization emphasizes its scientific approach, considering psychological and socio-psychological factors. CENAP has reportedly been consulted by German government ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Defense and the Federal Aviation Office, and maintains an extensive archive of UFO-related materials, including Europe's largest UFO video archive. CENAP is also associated with international UFO organizations and is a member of the GWUP (Society for the Scientific Investigation of the Paranormal) to combat occultism and pseudoscience.

Jimmy Carter Sah UFO (Jimmy Carter Saw a UFO)

This section, contributed by Werner Walter, revisits the sensational UFO sighting claims of former US President Jimmy Carter, which gained worldwide attention in 1977. The article contrasts this with the publication of a sighting by outgoing US President Ronald Reagan in the previous issue.

The Leary, Georgia Sighting (1969)

The article details a sighting that occurred in October 1969 in Leary, Georgia, when Jimmy Carter, then Governor of Georgia, was with ten other members of the Lions Club. Carter described the object as large, bright, changing from bluish to reddish, and hovering about 300 meters away for nearly ten minutes before disappearing. This account was later reported in various German newspapers.

The 1973 Sighting and Presidential Promises

Further reports suggest another sighting by Jimmy Carter in 1973. The article notes that during his presidential campaign, Carter was quoted in the National Enquirer as promising to release all US government information on UFOs if elected. This promise fueled expectations within the UFO community.

Alleged 1977 Encounter and Government Secrecy

A significant portion of the report focuses on an alleged encounter in September 1977. According to a security guard's account, Carter was contacted by an unknown entity and invited to a meeting at a secluded location near Andrews Air Force Base. The guard claims Carter entered a UFO and communicated with extraterrestrial beings who warned him about global war preparations and the potential destruction of Earth. The beings reportedly urged Carter to reveal their existence to humanity, stating that humanity needed to stop war preparations to save the planet. The article suggests that the Pentagon feared public panic and thus suppressed this information, a stance inherited from previous administrations.

NICAP Investigation and Carter's Report Form

The magazine includes details from a NICAP (National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena) report form filled out by Jimmy Carter in October 1973 regarding his 1969 sighting. Carter's handwritten responses confirm the sighting in Leary, Georgia, describing the object as luminous, changing color, and moving erratically. He estimated its size to be comparable to the moon and its distance between 300-1000 yards. Carter agreed to have his name used in connection with the report, indicating a willingness to share his experience.

Other Accounts and Skepticism

The article references various publications and researchers who have discussed Carter's UFO claims. Some, like Robert Sheaffer, have attempted to explain the sightings as misidentifications, such as the planet Venus. Others, like Johannes von Buttlar, have presented Carter's belief in UFOs as a significant indicator of their reality. The report also touches upon the challenges of verifying such accounts due to conflicting dates, vague details, and the alleged secrecy surrounding government investigations.

The 'UFO Investigator' and Further Details

The issue features excerpts from the 'UFO Investigator' magazine, detailing Carter's 1973 UFO report to NICAP. It highlights that Carter, as Governor of Georgia, reported a UFO sighting on October 12, 1973, and responded to NICAP's inquiries. The article notes that media reports on Carter's conviction in UFOs were sometimes accurate and sometimes inaccurate.

The 'Close Encounter of the First Kind' Documentation

The article mentions the book 'The UFO Verdict' by Robert Sheaffer, which examines evidence of UFO sightings. It also refers to a 'Close Encounter of the First Kind' documentation within Chapter 2, suggesting that President Carter's experience is presented as a significant event for UFOlogy.

Eisenhower's Alleged UFO Encounter

Drawing parallels to Carter's alleged experience, the magazine briefly mentions a report about former US President Eisenhower's supposed encounter with UFOs and extraterrestrials at Edwards Air Force Base in 1954. This is presented as another instance of alleged government secrecy regarding UFO phenomena.

The Search for Corroboration in Leary

Investigative efforts by the magazine's researchers to corroborate the Leary, Georgia sighting involved contacting local residents, former Lions Club members, and town officials. While many recalled Carter's visit, specific details about the UFO sighting were often vague or unremembered, with some suggesting the object might have been a weather balloon or a misidentification of Venus. The investigation faced difficulties due to the dissolution of the local Lions Club and the lack of accessible records.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The CENAP REPORT consistently promotes the idea that UFO phenomena are real and warrant serious scientific investigation. The magazine appears to be critical of government secrecy and the alleged suppression of information regarding UFOs. It champions the testimonies of witnesses, including prominent figures like Jimmy Carter, and presents evidence that supports the existence of extraterrestrial visitation. The editorial stance leans towards validating UFO reports and encouraging public awareness, while also acknowledging the skepticism and alternative explanations offered by some researchers. The magazine positions itself as a source for detailed, albeit sometimes controversial, information on UFOs.

This issue of CENAP REPORT, dated January 1989, is a German-language publication focusing on UFO phenomena and related topics. The cover features a map of Georgia, USA, and a headline warning about 'ASTROWARNUNG für März 1989'. The issue delves into the history of UFO investigation, the controversy surrounding government cover-ups, and scientific explanations for alleged paranormal events.

Key Articles and Features

Donald Keyhoe: A Pioneer of UFOlogy and Cover-Up Theories

The issue dedicates significant space to the life and work of Donald E. Keyhoe, a prominent UFO investigator and author who passed away on November 29, 1988. Keyhoe is presented as a central figure in the UFO movement, particularly known for his strong belief in the extraterrestrial hypothesis and his persistent accusations of a government cover-up regarding UFOs. The article traces his career from his early days as a writer and lecturer to his directorship of NICAP (National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena). Keyhoe's campaigns for congressional hearings and his role in shaping the public perception of UFOs as a potential extraterrestrial issue are detailed. His influential books, such as "The Flying Saucers Are Real" and "The Flying Saucer Conspiracy," are highlighted. The text also discusses the controversy surrounding his claims, including the contradiction of receiving UFO documents from the Pentagon while simultaneously accusing them of secrecy.

The Carter UFO Sighting and the Lions Club Investigation

A specific case involving a UFO sighting by then-District Governor Jimmy Carter is examined. The investigation, spearheaded by the author, uncovers discrepancies in Carter's account of the date of the sighting. Through inquiries with the Lions Club International Headquarter and its secretary, Charles Mask, it is determined that Carter's visit to the Leary Lions Club occurred on January 6, 1969, nine months earlier than Carter himself recalled. This finding significantly alters the understanding of the event and highlights the fallibility of witness memory.

Debunking Paranormal Phenomena: Dowsing and Pendulums

Another major section of the magazine addresses the scientific investigation of paranormal phenomena, particularly dowsing (Wünschelrute) and pendulum use. The article features insights from scientists and psychologists who argue that these practices are not evidence of 'earth rays' or supernatural forces. Wolfgang Hund, a magician and consultant on occultism, demonstrates how these phenomena can be explained by the 'ideomotor effect' (Carpenter effect), where unconscious muscle movements, driven by expectation and suggestion, cause the dowsing rod or pendulum to move. Professor Dr. Irmgard Oepen and Dipl.-Ing. Amadeo Sarma further elaborate on the physiological and psychological basis for these practices, dismissing the idea of external mystical forces.

The Condon Report and the Decline of UFOlogy

The issue touches upon the impact of the Condon Report, a scientific study of UFOs commissioned by the USAF. While Keyhoe initially supported the idea of a university investigation, he later criticized the report, viewing it as a whitewash. The report is presented as a turning point that led to a decline in public and media interest in UFOs, causing many UFO organizations and publications to falter.

Recent UFO Events and Astrowarning

The magazine includes brief reports on recent UFO-related incidents. One report details a Soviet rocket stage burning up over the USA, which caused widespread alarm and was initially mistaken for a UFO. Another report describes a farmer's account of an egg-shaped UFO landing near Aix-en-Provence, France, with physical trace evidence. An 'Astrowarning for March 1989' section discusses planetary alignments and potential astronomical stimuli for UFO sightings, with Jupiter and Mars being highlighted.

Key Figures and Organizations

Several key individuals and organizations are mentioned throughout the issue, including Donald E. Keyhoe, Jimmy Carter, Charles Mask, Al Webb, Donald Menzel, T. Townshend Brown, Admiral Oelmer S. Fahrney, R. H. Hillenkoetter, Dewey Fournet, Lawrence Tacker, Coral Lorenzen, Dr. Brian O'Brien, and Harold D. Brown. Organizations such as NICAP, APRO, USAF, Lions Club, and the Condon Committee are also prominent.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The CENAP REPORT consistently adopts a critical stance towards alleged paranormal phenomena, favoring scientific explanations and debunking claims of supernatural or extraterrestrial involvement where possible. While acknowledging the historical significance of figures like Donald Keyhoe and his contributions to raising public awareness of UFOs, the magazine often highlights the scientific counterarguments and the potential for misinterpretation or exaggeration in witness accounts. The editorial stance appears to be one of rational inquiry, seeking to demystify UFOs and paranormal claims through scientific analysis and critical examination of evidence. There is a clear emphasis on distinguishing between scientific fact and speculative theories, particularly concerning government cover-ups and extraterrestrial visitation.