THE SPOT REPORT

Magazine Overview

Title: THE SPOT REPORT
Issue Date: Friday, March 7, 1997
Price: $2.50
Cover Headline: Bill Moore and the Roswell Incident: The True Believers Deceived

This issue of The Spot Report features a lengthy investigative article by Robert G. Todd, titled "Bill Moore and the Roswell Incident: The True Believers Deceived." The article meticulously dissects and debunks three key documents that have been presented as evidence for the Roswell UFO incident and the recovery of alien technology. Todd argues that these documents are deliberate forgeries, designed to perpetuate the myth of a government cover-up.

The Schulgen Cover Letter and its Enclosures: A Case of Forgery

The central focus of the article is a 30 October 1947 cover letter purportedly from Brig. Gen. George F. Schulgen, Chief of Air Intelligence Requirements Division, along with two enclosures: an 'Intelligence Requirements' document and a 'Draft of Collection Memorandum.' These documents were made public through the Fund for UFO Research (FUFOR) and have been cited by researchers like Dr. Bruce Maccabee, Timothy Good, Stan Friedman, and Don Berliner to support claims of government deception regarding the Roswell incident.

Robert G. Todd, however, presents a compelling case that these documents are fakes. His investigation began in 1987 when Peter Gersten of Citizens Against UFO Secrecy (CAUS) raised suspicions. Todd's detailed analysis, including comparisons with genuine documents obtained from the National Archives, reveals numerous anomalies:

• Classification Markings: The markings on the fake cover letter differ from the genuine one and are unusual for the period.
• Handwriting: Handwritten notations on the fake and genuine letters are different.
• Typewriter Usage: The fake letter appears to have been retyped using a different typewriter than the original.
• Rubber Stamp Daters: The date stamp '30 OCT 1947' on the fake cover letter appears to be a composite made from at least two different rubber stamps, with inconsistencies in the spacing and alignment of numbers and letters. The 'OCT' portion suggests the use of a do-it-yourself rubber stamp kit.
• Coordination Blocks: The printed coordination blocks at the bottom of the fake cover letter, which should have been part of the original government-size paper, appear to have been cut and pasted from a genuine document.
• Declassification Notice: A declassification notice at the top of the fake cover letter is absent from the genuine one and appears to have been taken from another document, likely a declassification 'slug' used during the copying process.
• Paper Size: The fake documents are not on government-size paper, which was standard in 1947, unlike the genuine documents.
• Omissions and Alterations: Key phrases and information were deliberately omitted or altered in the fake documents to make them appear more mysterious and to support the alien spacecraft narrative, such as removing references to 'terrestrial aircraft' and 'metallic foils.'

Todd specifically highlights how the forger removed phrases like 'possibly sub-sonic at all times' and 'air' from 'aircraft' to imply extraterrestrial origins rather than advanced terrestrial technology, such as the Russian Horten flying wing designs, which were a focus of intelligence at the time.

The "Draft" Inclosure No. 1: Further Evidence of Forgery

The article also scrutinizes the 'Draft Inclosure No. 1,' which Todd claims contains the largest number of alterations. Notable changes include:

• Incomplete Sentences: The genuine document contains an incomplete sentence, "Should be contacted and interrogated," which the fake document corrects. This peculiar discrepancy, also present in the final published version, suggests the forger may have had an obsessive need for grammatical correctness.
• Omitted Subparagraphs: Three subparagraphs (1b, c, and d) were omitted from the fake document, which detailed Russian factories building Horten VIII aircraft and their tactical purpose, clearly indicating the focus on terrestrial technology.
• Rearranged Paragraphs: The remaining paragraphs were moved up to fill the gaps left by the omitted sections.
• Items of Construction: The fake version adds 'metallic foils' and 'similar material' to the description of composite construction, while the genuine document focuses on metals, plastics, and balsa wood. The forger's additions are seen as an attempt to create ambiguity.
• Items of Arrangement: The forger omitted details about bomb bay provisions, specifically the location and operation of doors, to obscure the terrestrial nature of the aircraft being discussed.
• Landing Gear: The fake document adds a reference to a 'tripod' landing gear, implying unconventional alien technology, whereas the genuine document discusses conventional landing gear and skid arrangements.

Todd concludes that the fake documents are illogical and internally inconsistent, especially when compared to the logical framework of the genuine documents which point towards advanced terrestrial aircraft, specifically Russian designs.

The Role of Bill Moore and Potential Forgers

Todd identifies Bill Moore as the primary suspect for forging these documents. Moore was the first to publicly mention these fake documents in his July/August 1986 International UFO Reporter (IUR) article, "Phil Klass and the Roswell Incident: the skeptics deceived." Moore's publications and listings indicate he was selling papers based on these fake documents as early as 1986. The declassification notice on the fake cover letter suggests it was copied on January 29, 1985, but Todd notes that Moore's publications from 1985 do not mention the draft memo, only other flying disc records.

Todd points out that the typewriter typestyle used on the fake documents matches one used by Bill Moore, and that Moore uses a do-it-yourself rubber stamp kit similar to one that could have been used to fake the date stamp. Moore's claim that he "found" the documents in the National Archives is questioned, with Todd suggesting that if Moore truly found them, he should be able to provide the exact file location, which would allow for verification.

The article also mentions Stan Friedman, another researcher associated with Moore, suggesting he acts as a shill for the alleged "Roswell/MJ-12 scammers." Todd speculates that Friedman might be a "buffoonish dupe" manipulated by the true con men.

Battelle Memorial Institute and Project Stork

In a separate section, Robert G. Todd addresses the relationship between the Battelle Memorial Institute (BMI) and the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC), particularly concerning Project Blue Book. Todd clarifies that Battelle, operating under the names "Project Stork" and "Project White Stork," was contracted primarily for scientific research and analysis of Soviet technology and capabilities. While Battelle did perform UFO-related services for ATIC, including analyzing soil samples and preparing reports like the famous Project Blue Book Special Report No. 14, their main focus was not on secret UFO investigations but on foreign air technical capabilities, specifically those of the USSR.

Todd debunks the speculation that Project Stork was a secret UFO project and Blue Book was merely a public relations cover. He explains that the names "Stork" and "White Stork" were simply designations for the contract with Battelle, which involved analyzing foreign military technology. The article concludes that the "mystery" of Battelle's involvement is solved, emphasizing their primary role in intelligence analysis related to the Soviet Union.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The central theme of this issue is the critical examination and debunking of purported UFO evidence, specifically focusing on document authenticity. Robert G. Todd's article strongly advocates for rigorous scrutiny of evidence presented in the UFO field, particularly documents that have gained prominence. The editorial stance is one of skepticism towards sensational claims and a commitment to uncovering the truth through detailed, evidence-based analysis. The article highlights the dangers of misinformation and the potential for deliberate deception within the UFO community, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing genuine historical records from fabricated ones. The piece also underscores the need for transparency and accountability from organizations that disseminate such information.