Cowflop Quarterly - 1995 09 01 - Vol 1 No 2

Magazine Overview

Title: The Cowflop Quarterly
Issue: Vol. 1, No. 2
Date: Friday, September 1, 1995
Price: $10.00

This issue of The Cowflop Quarterly features an in-depth article by Robert G. Todd titled "BOLENDER MEMO" REALITY CHECK, which aims to debunk common interpretations of a specific Air Force document regarding UFO investigations.

"BOLENDER MEMO" REALITY CHECK by Robert G. Todd

The article addresses claims made by self-styled UFO "experts" who interpret two sentences from a December 20, 1969, Air Staff Summary Sheet (the "Bolender memo") as evidence that significant UFO reports were deliberately kept from Project Blue Book and investigated in secret by the Air Force.

Todd argues that these sentences, taken out of context, have led to widespread misunderstanding. Paragraph 4 of the memo states that reports of UFOs affecting national security were made in accordance with JANAP 146 or Air Force Manual 55-11, and were not part of the Blue Book system. Paragraph 6 notes that upon Blue Book's termination, such reports would continue to be handled through standard Air Force procedures.

To provide context, Todd quotes the full text of paragraph 4, which includes findings from the 1953 Robertson Panel that UFOs showed no indication of being a direct physical threat to national security. Despite this, the Air Force maintained a special reporting system established in 1948 for Project Sign, Blue Book's predecessor. The memo confirms that while there was no evidence Project Blue Book reports served an intelligence function, UFOs affecting national security were handled separately. This confirmed the impression that defense functions could be handled within existing intelligence and surveillance frameworks, without a special unit like Blue Book.

The article explains the origins and evolution of these reporting systems:

• JANAP 146: First published in July 1948, it was initially for general military intelligence communications. UFOs were added in September 1950 with JANAP 146(A), which was later renamed "Communications Instructions For Reporting Vital Intelligence Sightings From Aircraft (CIRVIS)." Reports under this system were called "CIRVIS reports."
• Conflict and Clarification: A conflict arose between reporting systems, with the Air Defense Command (ADC) experiencing difficulty in receiving follow-up reports from Air Force Intelligence. These reports were going to Wright-Patterson AFB (where Blue Book was located), but ADC felt left out, impacting their air defense mission.
• Air Force Regulation (AFR) 200-3: Published July 2, 1952, this regulation aimed to strengthen the CIRVIS reporting program.
• Directorate of Intelligence Office Memo 200-23 (April 22, 1952): This memo outlined the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for handling CIRVIS reports, emphasizing their role in preventing events like Pearl Harbor by ensuring rapid information flow to key agencies: Air Defense Command (ADC), Secretary of Defense (SECDEF), and the Nearest Military Command.
• AFOIN-2B: This division within the Directorate of Intelligence was responsible for keeping the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC), which handled Project Blue Book, informed of relevant CIRVIS reports.
• AFR 55-88: In October 1959, reporting requirements shifted to this regulation, which also dealt with CIRVIS. By May 1966, CIRVIS reports were sent directly to the Foreign Technology Division (FTD), ATIC's successor and the home of Project Blue Book.
• AFM 55-11: Superseding AFR 55-88, this manual published on May 20, 1968, consolidated all Air Force reporting requirements, with the UFO portion being an abbreviated version of JANAP 146.

Todd asserts that the available documentation shows the Air Force did implement procedures to ensure Blue Book was informed of CIRVIS reports, despite the difficulty in finding this proof. He argues that the existence of two systems was not to hide UFOs but to manage different types of reports: those potentially affecting national security and those of general interest.

The article criticizes the "UFO experts" who misinterpret these documents, suggesting their "paranoid ravings" fill the gaps in their knowledge. It points out that the termination of Blue Book was not an end to Air Force interest in UFOs, as their mission to defend U.S. airspace inherently requires monitoring such phenomena.

Todd acknowledges that the government and Air Force are not blameless, as their pronouncements about ending the UFO business upon Blue Book's termination have fueled cover-up theories. He explains that Air Force personnel answering queries often lack the knowledge to distinguish between past procedures and current understanding, leading to a lack of credibility. He also notes the semantic difference in the term "UFO" between the Air Force (which includes unidentified commercial or military aircraft) and the UFO community (which often implies extraterrestrial spacecraft).

An example of post-Blue Book interest is given: in 1975, numerous UFO sightings occurred near Strategic Air Command (SAC) bases. Documentation showed no special project to investigate, but the sightings reached the Joint Chiefs of Staff, leading to Temperature Inversion Analysis (TIA) being performed by AFGWC. This effort, however, eventually ceased.

Todd concludes that the Air Force's interest in UFOs is transitory, and that "experts" who cannot find facts often invent them, creating elaborate scenarios consistent with a belief in alien visitations and government cover-ups. He reiterates that the "Bolender memo" is not proof of a cover-up but rather an indication of how different types of reports were managed.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The Cowflop Quarterly, as indicated by its subtitle, focuses on reporting on "UFOLOGICAL FRAUDS AND FANTASIES." This issue's main article strongly advocates for a rational, evidence-based approach to UFO phenomena, debunking sensationalist interpretations and conspiracy theories. The editorial stance appears to be critical of unsubstantiated claims made by some UFO enthusiasts and emphasizes the importance of understanding official procedures and documentation in their proper context. The magazine aims to provide a more grounded perspective on UFO reports and investigations, distinguishing between genuine intelligence concerns and speculative theories.