CdU Suplemento Internacional - 2005

Magazine Overview

Title: CdU Suplemento Internacional
Issue: Nº 10, Año 2005 (Selección de 2004)
Publisher: Fundación Anomalía
Country: Spain
ISSN: 1136-2995

This issue of CdU Suplemento Internacional, a supplement to the publication "CdU Internacional" by Fundación Anomalía, focuses on historical UFO cases and the controversial Condon Committee. It features illustrations by Frank R. Paul from 1939, referencing 'Fantastic Adventures' and 'La Guerra de los Mundos de Meinert'. The cover headlines highlight 'The MAN from MARS' by Paul and 'LIFE ON SATURN', with a dramatic apocalyptic scene at the bottom.

Articles

Oleada OVNI de 1954. La versión italiana

This article details the significant UFO wave that occurred in Italy in 1954, following a similar wave in France. The Italian wave began in mid-September and extended through December, resulting in at least 966 sightings. The phenomenon was fueled by media coverage of French cases and led to the emergence of early Italian ufologists like Carlo Alberto Perego and Ernesto Thayaht. The article notes that the wave included numerous close encounters of the third kind, with approximately 50 cases involving occupants. It highlights specific incidents, including mass sightings over Florence and Rome, and the phenomenon of 'angel hair' (cabello de ángel) which occurred from October 19 to December 4. The article also touches upon chemical analyses of the 'angel hair' which suggested a boron-silicate compound. It mentions a case involving Clare Boothe Luce, the US Ambassador to Italy, during a Rome sighting on October 28th. The article contrasts the Italian wave with earlier French cases and notes the initial lack of reported third-kind encounters before 1954, which increased after media attention on French and Norwegian cases. It describes a sighting on Capri involving a painter seeing 'tiny people' and an entity in Parravicino d'Erba. The article also recounts a prank in Tradate involving a fake UFO landing, which led to legal consequences for those involved.

Demasiado cerca para Condon: Encuentros cercanos del cuarto tipo

Authored by Michael D. Swords, this piece critically examines the Condon Committee's investigation into UFOs, particularly its failure to adequately address 'abduction' cases, or close encounters of the fourth kind (EC4). The author argues that the committee, despite having intelligent members, was largely ignorant of the UFO phenomenon and suffered from intellectual dishonesty, particularly from its principal investigator. The article highlights the Betty and Barney Hill case as an example of an abduction that occurred prior to the 1966 UFO wave, which the Condon Committee allegedly ignored. The author discusses the case of police officer Herbert Schirmer in Ashland, Nebraska, in December 1967, which was investigated by the Condon project. Despite initial reports from Roy Craig suggesting Schirmer's account was truthful, the committee ultimately concluded the case was psychological, labeling Schirmer with 'psychopathy and schizophrenia'. The article quotes positive assessments of Schirmer from his police chief and other project consultants, contrasting them with the committee's final verdict. It suggests the committee's methods were flawed and biased, focusing on psychological explanations rather than objective investigation. The article also mentions other cases that were allegedly dismissed, including one from a woman in Texas who reported an experience similar to 'The Interrupted Journey' by John Fuller, and a 'bedroom abduction' case from an engineer who had prior UFO encounters in 1913 and 1957.

El Programa secreto "Skyhook" durante la Guerra Fría

This article by B.D. Gildenberg reveals details about the secret 'Skyhook' project during the Cold War. The author, a specialist in Skyhook balloons, explains that these were massive balloons capable of sustained flight and carrying significant payloads. He notes that the project began in 1947, coinciding with the origin of the UFO epidemic, and suggests a connection between Skyhook and the rise of UFO mythology. The article posits that the characteristics of Skyhook balloons, such as their size (average diameter of 100 meters, length of 125 meters) and their flight in the stratosphere, made them potential generators of UFO sightings. The primary launch site for Project Mogul, a related project, was Alamogordo, New Mexico. The author implies that the Condon Committee's dismissal of UFO cases may have been influenced by the need to conceal information about these secret military projects.

Other Mentions and Themes

The magazine also includes a section on the 'Túnel de Luz' (Light Tunnel) phenomenon, detailing a case from Georgia where a witness interpreted a luminous tunnel experience as an ascent to heaven, encountering strange, human-like beings. The article critiques the Condon Committee's categorization of such experiences as religious or psychological. The issue concludes with a discussion on the potential impact of serious, well-funded UFO research, contrasting it with the Condon Committee's approach, and laments the missed opportunities for clarifying the nature of UFO phenomena.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the historical investigation of UFO phenomena, particularly focusing on the 1954 Italian UFO wave and the controversial Condon Committee. There is a strong critical stance towards the Condon Committee, portraying its investigations as biased, dismissive of witness testimony, and potentially influenced by government secrecy surrounding Cold War projects like Skyhook. The magazine advocates for a more serious and scientific approach to ufology, lamenting the missed opportunities for understanding phenomena like abductions. The editorial stance appears to be one of skepticism towards official explanations and a belief that many UFO cases warrant deeper, unbiased investigation.

This issue of "New Mexico Magazine" from January 1948, titled "Radar detection: targets these were probably mistaken for flying saucers," delves into the complex relationship between secret military projects and UFO phenomena during the Cold War. The magazine explores how classified programs, such as Project Mogul and the Skyhook balloon launches, inadvertently fueled public speculation about unidentified flying objects and government cover-ups.

Project Mogul and Early UFO Sightings

The article begins by detailing early UFO observations in the United States during the summer of 1947, noting that these were contemporaneous with Project Mogul launches from New Jersey and Long Island. A 1949 Air Force investigation into these sightings could not link them to Mogul, but the Air Force was unaware of a concurrent Navy project involving balloon launches from Colorado. The lack of coordination between military branches is highlighted as a factor contributing to the developing UFO mythology.

It is revealed that Project Mogul's primary objective was the detection of Soviet nuclear tests. However, the program was also used as a cover for other secret military activities. The article mentions that some early attempts to explain away UFO sightings involved independent teams launching configurations of balloons without secret payloads, even inviting newspapers to these events. This was later interpreted by UFO believers as an attempt to cover up the Roswell incident.

Skyhook Balloons and Project Blue Book

The Skyhook balloon program, with its headquarters at Alamogordo (now Holloman Air Force Base), is discussed as a significant element. This program eventually became the main launch point for Skyhook balloons and was linked to Project Blue Book, the Air Force's UFO investigation organization. Project Blue Book, initially known as Project Sign, was established in January 1948.

The article notes that the Skyhook program's operational base was located in the same building as the Project Blue Book office at Holloman Air Force Base, a choice motivated by the significant number of reports generated by the Skyhook vehicles. The Blue Book office in Ohio received reports from various collection offices across the country.

Project Moby Dick and WS-1191

The author, who joined the Skyhook group in 1951, became involved in Project Blue Book. A more discreet reason for this involvement was the U.S. Air Force's classified Project Moby Dick, which was erroneously described in some UFO literature as secret and established in 1947. This project aimed to study stratospheric wind trajectories through prolonged Skyhook balloon flights. Moby Dick also served as a cover for a top-secret project called WS-1191.

Project Moby Dick's stated objective was to study stratospheric wind trajectories, but a secret phase involved reconnaissance of the Soviet Union using stratospheric balloons. The article references Curtis Peebles' book "The Moby Dick Project" for in-depth information. Moby Dick collected trajectory data for Project Gopher, which also facilitated non-classified meteorological data.

Cover-ups and UFO Mythology

The article suggests that the secret nature of these projects, including WS-1191, contributed to government cover-up myths. The author recounts launching five test flights of WS-1191 in 1951 and 1952, with payloads under strict surveillance. The secrecy surrounding these operations, including the use of armed guards, fueled rumors and stories like the supposed Project Aquarius.

Project Horizon and Grab Bag

Philip Corso's book "The Day After Roswell" is mentioned as containing significant errors, including details about the displacement of German scientists. Corso's book also discusses Project Horizon, a declassified U.S. Army project to design a lunar base, which was canceled due to the Apollo program. However, the article clarifies that a secret Army project also named "Project Horizon" was related to photographic studies of the horizon for missile calibration, not lunar bases.

Another secret project, Grab Bag (also known as Sky Dipper or Cold Ash), involved collecting atomic explosion debris from the stratosphere. This project, along with its non-secret cover program Ash Can, focused on recovering materials using specially modified aircraft, leading to stories of aircraft being attacked by UFOs.

Grab Bag is described as a significant generator of UFO reports due to its operational profile. After releasing samples, a valve on the Skyhook would release gas, causing the balloon to descend to a few thousand feet before releasing its payload via parachute. The balloon would then ascend rapidly and explode at high altitude. Many detailed UFO incidents are attributed to Grab Bag's nighttime operations.

U-2 Spy Planes and UFO Misidentifications

The article addresses the claim that many UFO sightings in the late 1950s and 1960s were misidentifications of American spy planes, such as the U-2. It references a declassified CIA document and a study by Pedlow and Welzenbach, "The U-2 and OXCART Programs, 1954-1974." However, the author expresses skepticism, noting the lack of verifiable evidence and the reliance on uncorroborated statements from individuals involved in these programs.

The Role of Memory in UFO Accounts

In a section titled "The Mosaic of Memory," psychologist Chris French discusses how memory is not a perfect recording device but a reconstructive process. He explains that memories can change over time and are influenced by prior experiences and expectations, which can lead to inaccuracies in recalling events, including UFO sightings.

French uses anecdotes, such as a misremembered encounter with Paula Yates, to illustrate how memory can be fallible. He highlights that people often focus on the most relevant information for their immediate goals, potentially overlooking significant details. This reconstructive nature of memory can contribute to the varied and sometimes contradictory accounts of UFO experiences.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

Throughout the issue, a recurring theme is the deliberate secrecy surrounding military projects during the Cold War and how this secrecy inadvertently fueled UFO mythology and conspiracy theories. The magazine emphasizes that many reported UFO sightings can be explained by classified aerial reconnaissance programs, experimental aircraft, and balloon launches. The editorial stance appears to be one of demystification, aiming to provide factual explanations for phenomena often attributed to extraterrestrial activity, while acknowledging the enduring mystery and public fascination with UFOs.

This issue of Fortean Times, number 192, dated January 2005, focuses on the unreliability of memory and the phenomenon of microsleeps, particularly in drivers. The magazine features an interview with experimental psychologist Elizabeth Loftus and discusses the work of Fundación Anomalía.

The Fallibility of Memory

The issue begins by exploring the concept of 'flashbulb memories,' which are vivid recollections of significant events. The author shares personal anecdotes, including the assassination of J.F. Kennedy and the Challenger disaster, to illustrate how these memories, despite their perceived accuracy, can be entirely false. Experimental evidence is presented to show that our memories are often a blend of original recollections and later additions, with the mind automatically filling in gaps to create a coherent narrative. The concept of 'reality monitoring' is introduced as the capacity to distinguish between internally generated thoughts and external reality.

False Memories and Hypnosis

A significant portion of the article is dedicated to the work of Elizabeth Loftus, a prominent critic of the concept of repressed memories. The text explains how psychological therapies, particularly those involving hypnotic regression and guided visualizations, have led to the recovery of alleged repressed memories of childhood abuse. However, Loftus's research demonstrates the ease with which false memories can be implanted in individuals. The article recounts Loftus's own experience of developing a false memory about her mother's suicide, highlighting how easily such memories can be constructed and believed.

The Roman Numeral '4' on Watches

Chris French contributes a section on how our expectations can influence our memories, using the example of the Roman numeral for four on watch faces. While standard Roman numerals use 'IV' for four, many watches use 'IIII.' French describes a study where participants asked to draw a watch from memory were more likely to incorrectly use 'IV,' while those who copied a watch accurately reproduced 'IIII.' This illustrates how we often 'see' what we expect to see, and details can be overlooked if they are not crucial to our understanding (like telling time).

Microsleeps and Paranormal Experiences

The magazine then shifts focus to the phenomenon of 'microsleeps' – brief episodes of sleep that can occur even when a person is awake, particularly when fatigued. The article cites a study from New South Wales, Australia, linking driver fatigue to a significant percentage of fatal accidents. It draws a parallel between the conditions under which microsleeps occur (solitary driving, late at night, on secondary roads) and the circumstances reported by individuals who claim to have experienced paranormal encounters, such as UFO sightings, ghosts, and time slips.

The 'Susan' Case

An anecdotal case study of 'Susan' is presented, who experienced a vivid vision of a historical scene involving an overturned stagecoach while a passenger in a car. Her husband, driving at the time, did not witness the vision but noted his wife seemed distant. This case is used to suggest that some paranormal experiences reported by drivers might be vivid dreams or hallucinations occurring during microsleep episodes.

Fundación Anomalía

The latter part of the magazine introduces 'Fundación Anomalía,' an organization founded in 1997 with the objective of studying anomalous aerial phenomena. The foundation's activities include archiving ufological information, promoting scientific analysis, and publishing research. It offers various donation levels for those wishing to support its work, with benefits ranging from receiving publications to access to databases.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently emphasizes the subjective and often unreliable nature of human memory and perception. It questions the validity of recovered memories, particularly those obtained through hypnosis, and suggests that many paranormal experiences might have naturalistic explanations rooted in psychological or physiological states, such as microsleeps. The magazine appears to adopt a skeptical yet open-minded stance, exploring phenomena that challenge conventional understanding while seeking rational explanations. The inclusion of Fundación Anomalía highlights an interest in ufology as a subject of study, albeit framed within the broader context of anomalous phenomena and perception.