Cowflop Quarterly - 1995 12 08 - Vol 1 No 3 - Kowflop Quarterly

Magazine Overview

Title: The KowPflop Quarterly
Issue: Vol. 1, No. 3
Date: Friday, December 8, 1995
Publisher: Robert G. Todd
Price: $100.00

This issue of The KowPflop Quarterly, subtitled "Reporting on UFological Frauds and Fantasies," focuses on a critical examination of Major Jesse A. Marcel's role and testimony concerning the 1947 Roswell incident.

Major Jesse A. Marcel: Folk Hero or Mythomaniac?

The lead article, authored by Robert G. Todd, delves into the credibility of Major Jesse A. Marcel, a key figure in the Roswell narrative. Todd argues that Marcel's "testimony" is largely responsible for the enduring myth of the Roswell incident. The article meticulously dissects Marcel's claims, comparing them against his official military personnel file.

The Roswell Incident Testimony

Marcel claimed he received the call about the debris on Monday, July 7, 1947, from Chaves County Sheriff George Wilcox. He stated that he, along with a Counterintelligence Corps (CIC) agent, accompanied rancher W.W. "Mack" Brazel to the site where they found wreckage scattered over a large area. Marcel described the debris as "small beams about three eighths or a half inch square with some sort of hieroglyphics on them" that looked like balsa wood but were indestructible. He also described "tinfoil" that was as thin as cigarette foil but could not be dented or creased.

Todd points out discrepancies in Marcel's account, such as the absence of mention of a long gouge in the earth, which would be expected if the object had exploded in the air and fallen. The description of the debris is compared to what would be expected from weather balloons and radar targets.

Scrutiny of Military Service and Claims

The article extensively analyzes Marcel's military career based on his personnel file. Key claims scrutinized include:

• National Guard Service: Marcel claimed service in the National Guard in Louisiana and Texas, which his file confirms (sergeant in Louisiana, private in Texas).
• Appointment to Second Lieutenant: Marcel claimed he was an aide to General Hap Arnold, who decided he should go to intelligence school. The records show he applied for a second lieutenant appointment in January 1942 while working for Shell Oil, and was recommended for duty with the Army Air Forces. His assignment to intelligence school was decided by the Air Force before he entered active duty, based on his experience making maps from aerial photographs for Shell Oil.
• Flying Experience: Marcel claimed to be a private pilot since 1928 with 3,000 hours of flight time and 8,000 total flying hours. His applications and personnel file show no mention of any flying experience, not even as a passenger. His flying experience is listed as "NONE" on a "Reserve Officer Career Brief" dated November 1947.
• Combat Roles: Marcel claimed to have flown in combat as a waist gunner, bombardier, and pilot. While his file indicates he flew on combat missions, his primary Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) was "Intelligence Staff Officer (Combat)," suggesting his role was likely to assess bomb damage or identify targets, not necessarily to fly as a gunner or bombardier.
• Air Medals: Marcel claimed to have been awarded five Air Medals for shooting down five enemy planes as a waist gunner. Official records show he was awarded only two Air Medals (one Air Medal and an oak leaf cluster), and the citations indicate they were awarded for completing combat missions, not for shooting down aircraft.
• Rank: Marcel claimed to have been promoted to lieutenant colonel. His active-duty rank never rose above major. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve in December 1947, a fact he claimed not to have known until he left active duty in September 1950, which the article refutes with evidence of his acceptance of the promotion.
• Education: Marcel claimed a bachelor's degree in Physics from The George Washington University and attendance at other universities. University records and searches found no confirmation of his degrees or attendance, except for one year at LSU, which he described as non-credit.

The "Flying Disc" Identification

Todd suggests that Marcel's identification of the debris as a "flying disc" was likely a reaction to being shown unfamiliar, mangled metallic debris from specialized equipment he had never seen before. His subsequent insistence that it was not from a weather balloon or radar target may have been motivated by embarrassment after a weather officer identified similar debris correctly.

The Myth of Radar Targets

The article debunks the notion that radar targets were in widespread use and readily available to the 509th Bomb Group. It explains that precise wind information was crucial for atomic tests, and radar targets were specialized equipment used for measuring wind direction and speed, primarily by weather officers, not standard issue for bomb groups. The article criticizes "crashed-saucer promoters" like Kevin Randle for constructing elaborate rationalizations to fit their preconceived notions.

Marcel's Legacy and the Roswell Myth

Todd concludes that Major Marcel was a "mythomaniac" whose exaggerated claims and "face-saving claim that the debris was 'not of the Earth'" opened the door for others to promote the alien spaceship narrative. The article posits that the Roswell incident has become a powerful myth that profits various individuals and organizations, overshadowing the truth.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue firmly establishes The KowPflop Quarterly's stance as a publication dedicated to debunking ufological claims and exposing alleged frauds and fantasies. The editorial approach is critical and evidence-based, relying heavily on official records and logical analysis to challenge sensational narratives. The recurring theme is the examination of witness testimony against verifiable facts, particularly in the context of the Roswell incident, highlighting how personal motivations and the desire for fame can contribute to the creation and perpetuation of myths.